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
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
- Submit complete application (KRS 223.425) with required insurance/bond
- 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
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: By August 31 annually
- Renewal Window: June 1 – August 31
- Fee: $200 per year
- Method: Online renewal portal
- Late Renewals: May require reinstatement
Reporting & Documentation
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: Must meet ASTM A53 Grade B or API Grade B (see Table A of 401 KAR 6:310)
- PVC: Must meet ASTM F480 (see Table B of 401 KAR 6:310)
- All casing: Only new, NSF/ANSI-certified material 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 100-year flood elevation if in floodplain
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)
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, agitate well, let stand ~24 hours, pump out, then test.
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
- Plug with cement/bentonite from bottom-up
- Ensure complete sealing of all water-bearing zones
- Remove or cut casing below grade
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
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
Renew online by August 31 each year. Fee is $200. You must complete required CE hours (5 hours for drillers, 8 for assistants) with at least 3-4 hours drilling-related. Submit proof of CE with renewal application. Renewal window is June 1–August 31.
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.
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.
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.
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 →