Forms & Resources
Well Construction Record (eForm)
Required for every completed well. Due within 60 days.
Submit via eForm Portal ↗Bacteriological Report (DOW-6050)
Required E. coli test results. Due within 10 days of receiving lab results.
Download Form ↗All Official Forms
- Uniform Kentucky Well Construction Record: Submit via eForm portal within 60 days
- DOW-6050: Water Well Bacterial Report (lab results)
- DOW-6020: Water Well Owner\'s Guide (give to homeowner)
- DOW-6030: Water Well Variance Request (if requirements can't be met)
- DOW-6060: Application for Certification (new driller)
- DOW-6070: Certification Renewal Form
- DOW-6080: Affidavit of Supervision (for assistants)
- Maintenance/Plugging Record: Well abandonment form (60 days after plugging)
eForm Portal: Use dep.gateway.ky.gov/eForms for electronic submission of well construction and maintenance records.
Licensing Requirements
Kentucky requires certified drillers and assistants per 401 KAR 6:320 (implementing KRS 223.425).
License Fees
| License Type | Fee | Term |
|---|---|---|
| Application (new) | $50 | One-time |
| Certification Exam | $80 | One-time |
| Initial Certification | $200 | After passing exam |
| Annual Renewal | $200 | Certificate expires June 30; renew by July 1 (online window June 1 to Aug 31) |
Certification Types
- Water Well Driller: Category-specific certification for water supply wells
- Monitoring Well Driller: Separate certification for monitoring wells (401 KAR 6:350)
- Driller\'s Assistant: Works under direct supervision of certified driller
- Note: Kentucky does NOT issue separate "pump installer" or "rig operator" licenses
Exam & Initial Certification
- Be at least 18, legally able to work in the U.S., and have 2 years under a certified driller or equivalent experience (KRS 223.425)
- Submit the application with proof of liability insurance and a $5,000 surety bond (KRS 223.430)
- Pass driller exam with ≥70% score (Kentucky exam or NGWA national exam accepted)
- Study materials: 401 KAR 6:310 (construction standards) and groundwater geology
- Exam is offered remotely—contact DOWDrillersProgram@ky.gov for details
Continuing Education
| Certification Type | CE Hours/Year | Drilling-Related Min. | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Water Well Driller (cert.) | 5 hours/year | 3 hours minimum | Must be pre-approved by DOW |
| Driller's Assistant | 8 hours/year | 4 hours minimum | Must be pre-approved by DOW |
Pre-Approval Required
All CE courses must be pre-approved by Division of Water before attending. Submit courses for approval in advance. Keep certificates for 1 year after course date. Submit proof of CE with renewal application.
Renewal Process
- Deadline: Certificate expires June 30; renew by July 1
- Online Window: June 1 – August 31 (active bond and current insurance required)
- Fee: $200 per year
- Method: Online renewal portal
- Late Renewals: The certificate expires if the fee is not received within 60 days of July 1; an expired certificate can be renewed without re-examination within 2 years if CE was completed in the prior 12 months
Reporting & Documentation
| Document | Deadline | Submit To |
|---|---|---|
| Well Construction Record (eForm) | 60 days after completion | DOW via eForm portal |
| Bacteriological Report (DOW-6050) | Within 10 days of receiving lab results | DOW |
| Copy to Homeowner (Record + Lab + Guide) | 60 days after completion | Property owner |
| Abandonment/Plugging Record | 60 days after plugging | DOW + landowner |
| Certification Renewal | By July 1 (certificate expires if the fee is not received within 60 days); online window June 1 to Aug 31 | Online renewal portal |
Well Construction Record Requirements
The well construction record must include:
- Owner name and property location (diagram showing distances to roads, septic, etc.)
- Driller name and certification number
- Start and finish dates
- Total depth, static water level, well yield
- Casing type, size, material, and depth
- Lithology (formation descriptions by depth)
- Grouting/sealing information
- Disinfection details (method, concentration, date)
Mandatory Bacterial Testing
Each new potable well must be analyzed for E. coli within 30 days of completion (401 KAR 6:310 §9(6)). The driller collects the sterile sample after flushing chlorine and submits results on Form DOW-6050 within 10 days of receiving lab results.
Homeowner Documentation
You must provide the homeowner with copies of: (1) Well Construction Record, (2) Lab test results, and (3) Water Well Owner\'s Guide (Form DOW-6020) within 60 days of completion.
Record Retention
KRS 223.440 requires certified drillers to keep records of every wellconstructed, modified, or sealed. Retain copies indefinitely—the state archives records and forwards them to the Kentucky Geological Survey.
Construction Standards (401 KAR 6:310)
Casing Materials
- Steel: Minimum 4 in. inside diameter; wall thickness and weight per Table A of 401 KAR 6:310; welded or threaded joints
- PVC: SDR 26 minimum with the Table B wall thickness, impact class IC-1 under ASTM F480-14, and NSF 14 and NSF 61; never driven or pushed by the rig
- All casing: Materials must be approved by NSF, ASTM or API; used, damaged or contaminated casing and lead-containing materials are not allowed
- Prohibited: No used, damaged, or corroded pipe may be installed
Casing Installation
- Minimum diameter: 4″ inside diameter for permanent casing
- Minimum depth: At least 20 feet below ground
- Bedrock penetration:
- If unconsolidated sediments <30 ft thick: extend 10 ft into bedrock
- If unconsolidated sediments >30 ft thick: extend 2 ft into bedrock
- Surface termination: 4″ above finished grade, sloping away from well
- Flood zones: 2 ft above the highest base flood elevation at the site
Annular Seal (Grouting)
- Use "grout pipe method" (continuous fill from bottom up)
- Fill annulus to ~2 feet below surface
- Typical grouts: neat cement-bentonite or bentonite slurry
- Bentonite must hydrate per manufacturer specs
- Important: No bentonite if groundwater salt >1000 ppm
Setback Requirements (Table C)
| Contamination Source | Minimum Distance |
|---|---|
| Leaching pits or petroleum tanks | 100 ft |
| Cemeteries/graves, manure piles, CAFO waste, wastewater treatment | 75 ft |
| Geothermal (closed-loop, ungrouted) or lagoon side slopes | 70 ft |
| Other water wells, septic tank/line, livestock facilities | 50 ft |
| Surface water (pond, creek) | 25 ft |
| Abandoned wells or geothermal (grouted) | 20 ft |
| Property lines, utility lines, road rights-of-way | 10 ft |
| Where unconsolidated material is under 20 ft of mostly sand or gravel | All distances above are doubled |
Professional Judgment
Drillers must consider any on- or off-site hazards not listed in Table C and use professional judgment to protect water quality. Additional setbacks may be necessary depending on site conditions.
Disinfection Requirements
Wells must be disinfected with chlorine to at least 100 ppm before putting into service (401 KAR 6:310 §9).
Chlorine Dosage (household bleach ~5% sodium hypochlorite):
- 4″ well: 3 cups bleach per 150 ft of water
- 6″ well: 3 cups per 75 ft
- 8″ well: 3 cups per 50 ft
- 24″ well: 8 cups per 10 ft
Procedure: Add bleach, circulate at least 30 minutes so it reaches the casing, borehole and pump parts, let it stand at least 30 minutes, then purge all chlorinated water (not into a surface water body). Collect the E. coli sample only after residual chlorine is purged.
Permits
No Construction Permit Required
Kentucky does not require a separate drilling permit from DOW for routine private wells. There is no state "notice to drill" (aside from calling 811 for utility locates). Compliance is ensured through licensing and record-keeping.
High-Capacity Well Permits
Water Withdrawal Permit Required
Withdrawal of ≥10,000 gallons per day from any ground or surface water (except domestic/agricultural use) requires a Water Withdrawal permit.
- Threshold: Wells capable of >~7 gpm continuously
- Application: Form DOW-7116, submit 4–6 months before pumping begins
- Fee: Currently no permit fee
- Processing: 30 days completeness check + up to 90 days technical review
- Contact: Rita Hockensmith (Rita.Hockensmith@ky.gov) or 502-782-6907
Special Well Types
- Geothermal Loops: Follow 401 KAR 6:310 setbacks. Closed-loop wells use same driller certification. Open-loop systems (if ≥10,000 gpd) require Water Withdrawal permit.
- Monitoring Wells: Must be installed by certified monitoring-well driller (per 401 KAR 6:320). Construction follows 401 KAR 6:350. No separate permit unless part of regulated cleanup program.
🔌 Well Abandonment & Plugging
When to Seal a Well
A well must be plugged if it cannot produce adequately or is contaminated (401 KAR 6:310 §11). Any non-working well must be abandoned by a certified driller within 30 daysof determining it's unusable.
Plugging Procedures
- Follow 401 KAR 6:310 Section 11 procedures
- Remove all casing, screen and liner (cut off 5 ft below grade only if grouted in place and it cannot be pulled)
- Fill with sealing or inert material from the bottom to 20 ft below grade, then sealing material from 20 ft to 5 ft; fill the top 5 ft with sealing material, clay or suitable inert material
- Ensure complete sealing of all water-bearing zones
- Disinfect the well first (Section 9(3)) and record depth, diameter and static water level on the Maintenance and Plugging Record
Reporting Requirements
Within 60 days after abandonment, submit a Uniform Kentucky Well Maintenance and Plugging Record to DOW and give a copy to the landowner. Use the eForm portal for electronic submission.
Drilling Conditions by Region
Ohio River Alluvium (Jackson Purchase)
- Unconsolidated sand/gravel
- Very productive (50–200 gpm)
- Wells usually <100 ft
- Easy drilling (air-percussion or mud-rotary)
- Watch for silting in floodplain
Western Coal Field (Illinois Basin)
- Pennsylvanian sandstones
- Moderate yields (~25 gpm avg, up to 150 gpm)
- Hard water with iron
- Saltwater possible at >500–1000 ft
- Wells typically 150–400 ft
Mississippian Plateau & Bluegrass
- Carbonate bedrock (limestone/dolomite)
- Karst terrain—may hit cavities
- High yields possible (100+ gpm)
- Artesian flow in confined zones
- Very hard water, vulnerable to surface contamination
- Wells typically 150–300 ft
Eastern Coal Field / Appalachian
- Pennsylvanian sandstones
- Hard-rock drilling required
- Low yields (~10–50 gpm)
- Acidic water with iron/manganese
- Wells often 300–1000 ft
Regional Challenges
- Hard Rock: Eastern/Coal Regions have hard, variable geology—rigs may become stuck, mud needed
- Flowing Wells: Artesian pressure in carbonate/confined sands—plan for flow control valves
- Karst Terrain: Unpredictable voids in Bluegrass/Mississippian areas—do not drill in sinkholes
- Shallow Sands: Northwest KY alluvial may encounter buried debris
- Arsenic: Coal-bearing shales in Eastern Kentucky—test new wells for arsenic
Geology Resources
Reference the Kentucky Geological Survey for detailed geology maps, well logs, and water quality data by county.
Resources & Contacts
Well Driller Certification Program
Licensing, exams, renewal, forms
Division of Water – Groundwater Section
Technical questions, aquifers, water quality
Groundwater Section Supervisor
Adam Smith – well driller certification and ambient monitoring
Kentucky Groundwater Association (KYGWA)
Training, CE courses, industry association
Additional Contacts
| Office/Person | Phone | |
|---|---|---|
| Water Withdrawal Permits (Rita Hockensmith) | 502-782-6907 | Rita.Hockensmith@ky.gov |
| Kentucky Geological Survey (Water) | 859-257-5500 | waterwell@uky.edu |
| DOW Spill Hotline (emergencies) | 800-928-2380 | — |
Regulatory References
- 401 KAR 6:310 – Water supply well construction practices and standards
- 401 KAR 6:320 – Water well driller and assistant certification
- 401 KAR 6:350 – Monitoring well standards
- KRS 223.400–.460 – Kentucky Revised Statutes on water wells
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I renew my Kentucky driller certification?
Certificates run to June 30 and renew by July 1 each year (401 KAR 6:320 Section 7). The Division of Water takes online recertification from June 1 through August 31, and the certificate expires if the $200 fee is not received within 60 days of July 1. You need an active bond, current liability insurance, and the CE hours (5 for drillers, 8 for assistants, with at least 3 or 4 drilling-related) completed between July 1 and June 30. Submit proof of CE with the renewal.
What are the CE requirements for Kentucky drillers?
Certified drillers need 5 hours/year (3+ drilling-related); assistants need 8 hours/year (4+ drilling-related). All courses must be pre-approved by Division of Water. CE may be classroom or online from approved providers like KYGWA or NGWA.
How soon must I file the well construction record?
Within 60 days after completion via the eForm portal (dep.gateway.ky.gov). You must also submit bacteriological test results (DOW-6050) within 10 days of receiving them, and provide copies of all reports to the homeowner within 60 days.
What are the setback requirements in Kentucky?
100 ft from leaching pits/petroleum tanks, 75 ft from cemeteries/wastewater, 50 ft from septic systems/other wells, 25 ft from surface water, 10 ft from property lines. See 401 KAR 6:310 Table C for complete list.
Do I need a permit to drill a well in Kentucky?
No. Kentucky has no statewide "notice to drill" or construction permit for routine private wells. Compliance is ensured through driller certification and record-keeping. High-capacity wells (≥10,000 gpd) require a Water Withdrawal permit from DOW.
Looking for Homeowner Information?
Check out our Kentucky well guide for homeowners covering costs, water quality, and finding certified drillers.
Kentucky Homeowner Well Guide →