Forms & Resources
State Well Report (Part 1 & 2)
Part 1: Drilling, casing, grouting – due within 30 days of setting casing.
Part 2: Pump installation, completion – due within 30 days of well completion.
Download Forms ↗Well Decommissioning Form
Required when abandoning or plugging a well. Due within 30 days of sealing.
Download Form ↗All MDEQ Forms
- State Well Report (Part 1): Drilling, casing, grouting details
- State Well Report (Part 2): Pump installation, final completion
- Well Decommissioning Form: Plugging and abandonment documentation
- Drill Rig Registration (OLWR-DR-1): Annual rig registration with MDEQ
- License Applications: Water Well Contractor, Pump Installer, Restricted Driller
- Groundwater Withdrawal Permit: For high-capacity wells ($10 per well)
Two-Part Report System
Mississippi uses a two-part well report. If you drill and install the pump continuously, both parts can be submitted together. If a different contractor installs the pump, you file Part 1 within 30 days of casing and provide Part 1 + blank Part 2 to the pump installer.
Licensing Requirements
Mississippi requires licensed drillers and pump installers per Miss. Code Ann. §51-5-1 et seq. and 11 Miss. Admin. Code Pt.7, Ch.2.
License Types
- Water Well Contractor (Unrestricted Driller): Full water-well driller\'s license for all well construction, pump installation, and borehole work
- Restricted Driller (Special-Purpose): For non-water-supply holes (geotechnical borings, monitoring wells, geothermal loop holes)
- Pump Installer: For servicing/installing downhole pumps and related equipment
License Fees
Qualification Requirements
- Age: ≥21 years old
- Character: Good moral character
- Experience: ≥3 years drilling experience in the work sought
- Knowledge: Demonstrate knowledge of Mississippi well laws and regulations
- Equipment: Access to necessary drilling equipment
- Exam: Pass state-administered or NGWA exams (written/oral) in drilling and/or pump installation
Continuing Education
Annual Renewal Deadline
Licenses expire June 30 each year. Renew before expiration to avoid $10/month late penalty. You must certify completion of 4 CE hours before renewal. Licenses are non-transferable.
Reporting & Documentation
State Well Report Requirements
The two-part report must include:
Part 1 (Drilling/Casing):
- Depth and lithology (formation descriptions)
- Water-bearing zones encountered
- Casing sizes, materials, and depths
- Grouting/sealing information (method, depth, material)
- Drilling method and rig details
Part 2 (Completion):
- Pump type, size, depth
- Pump test data (yield, drawdown)
- Pressure tank details
- Electrical specifications
- Disinfection confirmation
Record Retention
Keep copies of all State Well Reports and decommissioning forms indefinitely. Best practice: retain for at least 5 years (or life of well) for regulator requests or future owners.
Construction Standards (11 Miss. Code R. 7-2.12)
Casing Termination
- Well casing must extend ≥12 inches (1 ft) above ground or 100-year flood elevation
- If floodwaters routinely reach well, install watertight Braden head with locked vent plug
- Public supply wells must be ≥1 ft above 100-year flood level
- Ground surface must slope away from wellhead
Discharge Piping
- All wells must have check valve on discharge line
- ≥4 ft of straight discharge pipe between casing head and any valves/appurtenances
- Slope ground away from wellhead to prevent surface water entry
Annular Seal (Grouting)
Critical Grouting Rules
- No free-fall placement of grout deeper than 25 ft – use tremie pipe
- Any continuous casing length without screens requires one continuous grout pour
- Grout must be neat cement, cement-bentonite blend (5–8% bentonite), or bentonite slurry
Casing Material Requirements
Brackish Water Rule
All wells drilled into aquifers where chloride >250 mg/L or TDS >1000 mg/Lmust use metal casing and be grouted with the Halliburton (pressure) method. This protects against casing corrosion by brackish or saline water.
Setback Requirements
Disinfection
Mandatory disinfection requirements:
- Drilling water: If not from potable source, chlorinate to maintain ≥5 mg/L free chlorine
- Gravel pack/filter material: Disinfect with 50 mg/L bleach before placement
- Upon completion: Disinfect well and surrounding aquifer with ≥50 mg/L free chlorine for 24 hours (follow AWWA standards)
- Final flush: Pump until chlorine-free and coliform-free water sample obtained
- Submit coliform sample per MSDH requirements
Permits
Domestic Wells (Single-Family)
No state permit required for single-family domestic wells. Mississippi exempts domestic wells from groundwater withdrawal permits (11 Miss. Code R. 7-1.4).
High-Capacity Wells
A Groundwater Withdrawal Permit from MDEQ OLWR is required for:
- Irrigation, industrial, or large commercial supply wells
- Any withdrawal ≥20,000 gallons/day within a State-declared Water Use Caution Area
- Wells on 6+ inch diameter (in some contexts)
Permit Requirements:
- Apply before drilling – permit must be obtained prior to well construction
- Application fee: $10 per well
- Submit to: MDEQ Office of Land & Water Resources
- Include: Maps, pump test data, water-use plan, well details
- Annual reporting: All permittees must log pumpage reports to MDEQ
Special Well Types
- Geothermal/Monitoring wells: Regulated via same water well licensing rules. Licensed drillers may install vertical geothermal loop holes and monitoring wells under existing license. No additional state drilling permit needed.
- Open-loop geothermal: Systems that withdraw groundwater may require water-use permitting.
- Injection wells: Regulated separately by US EPA (Underground Injection Control program) or Mississippi Oil/Gas Board – not under water-well program.
County/Local Requirements
There is no separate county drilling permit in Mississippi. All well permitting (outside domestic homes) is done via state programs. Exception: The Yazoo-Mississippi Delta region has special groundwater management; check with MDEQ district office if drilling in Delta counties.
Drilling Conditions by Region
North Mississippi (Appalachian Foothills)
- Geology: Crystalline and Paleozoic bedrock (limestone, dolomite, shale)
- Depths: Typically 50–200 ft
- Challenges: Hard rock requiring hammer drilling, modest yields
- Aquifers: Fractured rock, Memphis Sand near Tennessee border
- Note: Clay/shale layers can cause hole collapse – careful mud management
Delta/Embayment (NW Mississippi)
- Geology: Unconsolidated Pleistocene sands and gravels (Mississippi Alluvial Plain)
- Depths: Very shallow, often <100 ft, high-yielding
- Challenges: Unconsolidated sands prone to wash-outs/cave-ins
- Artesian: Many alluvial wells flow at land surface – install blow-off valves
- Water quality: High iron, fine silts can clog screens
Central Mississippi (Jackson Area)
- Geology: Thick Cretaceous/Tertiary sand formations (Wilcox, Sparta, Cockfield, Memphis)
- Depths: Deep wells required (300–1000 ft depending on aquifer)
- Challenges: Sticky clay layers, artesian conditions in confined zones
- Aquifers: Sparta/Memphis zones (some wells flow)
- Note: SW Mississippi may encounter brackish water – use metal casing
South Mississippi/Coastal Plain
- Geology: Soft Cenozoic sands
- Depths: Deep wells often >500 ft to reach fresh water
- Challenges: Saltwater intrusion risk in coastal counties, thick clay confining units
- Aquifers: Freshwater lens may be near surface (<50 ft) for non-potable uses
- Note: Check saltwater/freshwater interface charts for coastal areas
Regional Challenges
- Rock vs. sand: NE MS may need hammer drilling for limestone; southern/coastal areas typically use rotary
- Flowing wells: Confined aquifers (Sparta, alluvial) can produce artesian flow – install blow-off valves, secure casing ≥1 ft above ground
- Sediment/clarity: Suspended fines (clay, silt) in Alluvial/Claiborne regions require thorough development
- High iron/hardness: Common statewide – use appropriate filter media and development techniques
Seasonal Considerations
- Flooding: Spring high waters on Mississippi, Yazoo rivers can inundate wells. Always set casing above 100-year flood elevation
- Frozen ground: Northern MS may see occasional frost depths of 1–2 ft. Protect surface facilities in winter
- Water-table fluctuations: Schedule pumping tests when water levels are stable. Avoid drilling artesian holes late in drought when pressures may be higher
Typical Well Depths by Use
- Domestic/drinking wells: 100–300 ft (rural MS average, varies by aquifer)
- Irrigation wells (alluvial aquifer): Usually <100 ft
- Industrial/municipal: May exceed 500 ft (especially deep coastal aquifers)
- Shallow farm wells (Delta): Hand-dug/drilled, 20–50 ft
Resources & Contacts
Professional Associations & Training
- Mississippi Rural Water Association (MSRWA): Training/conferences (including drilling workshops) – 601-857-2433 – msrwa.org
- National Ground Water Association (NGWA): Administers state licensing exams, technical standards – 1-800-551-7379 – ngwa.org
- U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) MS Water Science Center: Hydrogeologic data – 601-933-8566
Regulatory References
- Miss. Code Ann. §51-5-1 et seq. – Well driller licensing law
- 11 Miss. Admin. Code R. 7-2.12 – Water well construction standards
- 11 Miss. Admin. Code R. 7-2.9 – State well reports (30-day deadline)
- 11 Miss. Admin. Code R. 7-1.4 – Groundwater withdrawals (domestic exemption)
Frequently Asked Questions
Renew annually before June 30. Fee is $100 per year. You must complete 4 hours of CE from MDEQ-approved providers before renewal. Late renewals incur a $10/month penalty. Apply through MDEQ Office of Land & Water Resources.
4 hours per year from MDEQ-approved providers. Topics must cover drilling methods, groundwater protection, safety, or new regulations. Keep certificates for 1 year after course date for audit purposes.
Mississippi uses a two-part State Well Report. Part 1 (drilling/casing) is due within 30 days of setting casing. Part 2 (pump installation) is due within 30 days of well completion. Both submitted to MDEQ OLWR.
100 ft from any known pollution sources (septic systems, lagoons, fuel tanks, etc.). If drilling within 100 ft of a source, grout annulus from 50 ft depth to surface. Wells within ¼ mile of contaminated aquifer require full-depth grouting.
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