📄 Forms & Resources
📝 Well Completion Report
Required for every completed well. Due within 30 days.
Download Form ↗📝 Hydrofracture Notice
Required before hydrofracturing. File with Drinking Water Program.
Get Form ↗All Commission Forms
- Well Completion Report: Submit to Maine Geological Survey within 30 days
- License Application: Master/Journeyman driller or pump installer
- License Renewal: Annual renewal before December 31
- Setback Reduction Notification: For bedrock wells with reduced setbacks
- Specialty Well Permit: For wells that cannot meet standard requirements
Online Submission: Use the Maine Geological Survey well report system for electronic filing of completion reports.
📋 Licensing Requirements
Maine requires licensed drillers and pump installers per Title 32 Chapter 69-C (Well Drillers Commission).
License Types & Requirements
Key License Details
- Fees: Set by the Commission to recover administrative costs
- Renewal: All licenses expire December 31 annually
- Exams: Written exams administered by the Commission
- Apprentices: No exam or fee required, but must be registered
- License display: Must display license number/year on rig/vehicle
- Continuing Education: Not currently required (may be adopted in future)
Master Plumbers
A person licensed as a Master Plumber under Title 32 Chapter 49 is deemed qualified as a Journeyman Pump Installer without additional exam.
📝 Reporting & Documentation
Well Completion Report Requirements
The well completion report must include:
- Well location (GPS coordinates recommended)
- Depth and lithology (formation descriptions)
- Water-bearing zones encountered
- Casing sizes, materials, and depths
- Grouting/sealing information
- Static water level and yield data
- Pump test data (if conducted)
Filing Deadline
Well reports must be filed within 30 days of completion per 12 M.R.S. §550-B. Failure to file on time is a violation and may result in penalties.
Record Retention
Well information (driller name, date, depth, yield) must be permanently recorded on the well casing or a tank plaque. Keep copies of well logs and completion reports indefinitely for customer and regulatory reference.
📖 Construction Standards (144 CMR 232)
Casing Requirements
- Materials: Steel or approved plastic (NSF-certified)
- Extension: Casing must extend ≥8 inches above grade
- Seal: Sanitary well seal required on all wells
- Screen: Open-topped sand wells must use screened casing or gravel pack
Annular Seal (Grouting)
- All wells must have proper annular seal
- Surface completion: sloped to drain away from well
- Use bentonite or cement grout per NGWA standards
Setback Requirements
Setback Reductions
Bedrock wells may qualify for reduced setbacks using the §400.3 table based on casing depth. File a Setback Reduction Notification with the Commission.
Disinfection
All new, reconditioned, or repaired wells for human consumption must be disinfected before service. Minimum 50 ppm chlorine for 24 hours after any new pump/piping installation (144 CMR 232, Ch. 8).
🏛️ Permits
Private Wells
Maine has no statewide drilling permit for private residential wells. However, local ordinances may require building permits or land-use approvals.
High-Capacity Wells
Wells withdrawing ≥75,000 gal/week (near wetlands/streams) or ≥216,000 gal/week (farther away) are classified as "Significant Groundwater Withdrawals" per 38 M.R.S. §480-B(9-A). These require:
- DEP permit under NRPA before drilling
- Annual reporting and fees
- Domestic use wells are exempt
Special Permits
- Specialty Well Permit: For wells that cannot meet standard setbacks or other requirements. Apply to the Commission with justification.
- Hydrofracture Notice: File with Drinking Water Program before hydrofracturing any well.
- Wellhead Protection Zones: Check for WHP zones near public water supplies. Certain facilities (fuel tanks, dry cleaners) are banned in these zones.
🗺️ Drilling Conditions by Region
Southern & Coastal Maine
- Glacial sand/gravel aquifers common
- Bedrock: granite, gneiss, schist
- Typical depths: 100-300 ft
- High arsenic areas (York, Cumberland, Sagadahoc)
- Watch for saltwater intrusion near coast
Central Maine (Kennebec Valley)
- River valley sand/gravel deposits
- Metamorphic bedrock
- Typical depths: 150-400 ft
- Arsenic hotspot (Kennebec County)
- Good yields in valley aquifers
Northern & Interior Maine
- Mostly bedrock wells (thin till)
- Hard crystalline rock (granite)
- Typical depths: 200-400 ft
- Low yields common (<10 gpm)
- Bouldery glacial drift challenges
Downeast Maine (Hancock/Washington)
- Fractured bedrock (granite, volcanic)
- Typical depths: 150-350 ft
- Arsenic in Ellsworth area
- Iron/manganese common
- Variable yields
Geology Resources
Reference the Maine Geological Survey aquifer maps for detailed geology and typical drilling conditions by region.
Common Challenges
- Hard bedrock: Slow drilling in granite and metamorphic rock
- Bouldery drift: Can damage equipment or stall progress
- Low yields: Fracture-dependent; often <10 gpm in bedrock
- Seasonal variation: Water tables fluctuate with spring recharge
- Frost depth: 3-4 ft; requires proper casing extension
📞 Resources & Contacts
Regulatory References
- 144 CMR 232 – Well Drillers and Pump Installers Rules
- Title 32 Chapter 69-C – Water Well Drillers Commission and licensing
- Title 12 §550-B – Well completion reporting requirements
- Title 38 §480-B – Significant groundwater withdrawals
- Title 38 Chapter 13-D – Wellhead protection zones
❓ Frequently Asked Questions
All licenses expire December 31 annually. Renew through the Maine Well Drillers Commission before expiration. Fee is set by the Commission. No continuing education is currently required, though the Commission may adopt CE rules in the future.
Maine currently does not mandate continuing education for drillers or pump installers. However, voluntary training is available through the Maine Groundwater Association and other providers.
Within 30 days of completion. Submit to the Maine Geological Survey using their well report form. Failure to file on time is a violation of 12 M.R.S. §550-B.
100 ft from septic disposal fields (<2,000 gpd), 300 ft for larger systems, and 60 ft from septic tanks. Bedrock wells may qualify for reduced setbacks with Commission notification. All setbacks are in 144 CMR 232 §4-400.
Looking for Homeowner Information?
Check out our Maine well guide for homeowners covering costs, testing, and water quality.
Maine Homeowner Well Guide →