Forms & Resources
Required for every completed well. Due within 90 days (RSA 482-B:10, We 800). No fee currently; a $100 fee per report is scheduled for January 1, 2027 (We 303.02(j)). Confirm implementation with NHDES.
View Mail-in Form ↗Required when sealing/abandoning a well. Submit within 90 days (recommended).
View Forms ↗All NHDES Forms
- NHDES-W-03-173: Well Completion Report (required for all wells)
- Well Abandonment Report: Required for sealed/abandoned wells
- WWB License Application: Downloadable new-license application
- NHDES-W-03-082: License renewal can be completed online
- High-Capacity Well Forms: For wells withdrawing more than 57,600 gallons in any 24-hour period
Licensing Requirements
New Hampshire requires licensed contractors for all well work per RSA 482-B. Qualifications include 3 years' experience and passing a board exam.
License Fees (Annual)
| License Type | Annual Fee | Equipment/Scope |
|---|---|---|
| Water Well Contractor (dug wells) | $100/yr | Backhoe/auger equipment |
| Water Well Contractor (washed/cable) | $150/yr | Cable-drilled or washed wells |
| Water Well Contractor (rotary) | $225/yr | Rotary-drilled wells (most common) |
| Technical Driller (monitoring wells) | $225/yr | Groundwater monitoring wells |
| Pump Installer | $100/yr | Domestic (≤3 HP) or commercial pumps |
Additional Fees
| Fee Type | Amount | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| New License Application Fee | $25 | Nonrefundable, one-time |
| Exam Fee (per category) | $10 | Separate from license fee |
| Late Renewal Fee | $20 | After July 31 deadline |
Continuing Education
- Pump Installers: 2 hours annually from board-approved providers
- Well Drillers: No mandatory CE (Board may require remedial CE if disciplined)
- Approved Topics: Water wells, pumps, treatment, safety, management, hydrogeology
- Providers: NHDES, state agencies, trade associations, accredited colleges, vendors
- Record Retention: Keep certificates for 1 year after course date
Reporting & Documentation
| Document | Deadline | Submit To |
|---|---|---|
| Well Completion Report | 90 days after completion | NHDES (download mail-in form) |
| Well Abandonment Report | 90 days recommended | NHDES (download mail-in form) |
| License Renewal | Before June 30 annually | NH Water Well Board |
| CE Certificates (pump installers) | Keep 1 year after course | Retain for audit |
Well Completion Report Requirements
The completion report (NHDES-W-03-173) must include:
- Owner name and property GPS coordinates (NAD 83/WGS 84 datum)
- Completion date, well use, and total depth
- Casing material, sizes, depths, and seal method
- Yield test results (GPM) and static water level
- Geologic deposits encountered (lithology)
- Pump details (type, HP, depth) if installed
- Bacteriological sample collected (yes/no flag)
Well Abandonment Procedures
Abandoned wells must be sealed per We 604.05:
- Dug wells: Sand/gravel fill with top 2 ft clay
- Drilled bedrock wells: Alternating crushed stone and 4 ft bentonite layers from bottom
- Drilled overburden wells: Sand/gravel to 15 ft below grade, 4 ft bentonite, then grout
Submit the Well Abandonment Report within 90 days (recommended).
Construction Standards (We 600)
Septic setbacks above 750 gpd increase under We 600 Appendix C. Reduced setbacks require the applicable We 602.14-.16 site conditions, construction safeguards and approvals; .09 standard distances are subject to those bedrock-well exceptions.
Casing & Grouting (We 602)
- Annular seal: Where grouted casing is required, follow We 602.05; .31 excavated and .28 driven/drive-and-wash wells are excluded. For gravel wells, grout from 5 ft below the pitless adapter to a design depth sufficient to prevent surface water channeling to groundwater
- Bedrock wells: Grout from bottom of borehole to surface
- Overburden wells: Contractor-specified depth (adequate protection)
- Casing height: At least 8 inches above grade for bedrock and unconsolidated wells; 18 inches for public-water-system and dug wells
- Flood zones: Higher casing as needed to prevent surface water entry
Setback Requirements (We 602.07–.10)
| Contamination Source | Minimum Distance |
|---|---|
| Septic disposal area or tank (≤750 gal/day) | 75 ft; tank reduction to 50 ft requires SDR 26 or equivalent soil line and sealed/grouted tank |
| State highway right-of-way, surface water, sewer | 50 ft |
| Livestock pen, salvage yard, solid waste site, fertilizer/manure/salt pile, public road surface | 75 ft (livestock pen: 100 ft for dug wells) |
| Gasoline underground storage tanks (non-public well) | 250 ft minimum |
| Other regulated-substance underground tanks (non-public well) | 75 ft minimum |
Disinfection (We 602.03)
All new wells must be chlorinated before use. Shock-chlorinate and flush until 50 ppm residual chlorine is achieved. Water testing is recommended for private domestic wells, but is not a state requirement. State whether a sample was collected on the completion report (We 801.01(a)(16)).
Pump Installation (We 602)
- Casings rising ≥1 ft above finished floor if in building
- Tight sanitary seal around entry ports required
- Licensed pump installer required for all pump work
Permits
State Permits
NH does not issue a pre-drilling permit for private domestic wells. The Well Completion Report (within 90 days) fulfills the state notification requirement.
High-Capacity Wells
Wells installed after August 1998 withdrawing more than 57,600 gallons over any 24-hour period require a Large Groundwater Withdrawal Permit from NHDES (RSA 485-C:21-25, Env-Wq 403). The permit process requires:
- Hydrogeologic assessment and yield testing
- Water budget analysis
- Public notice and review
- Annual registration with NHDES
Local Permits
No county-level well permits exist in NH. However, check with the local town for building permits, road-opening permits, or occupancy requirements.
Special Well Types
- Closed-loop geothermal (We 602.37): Standard drilling license required. No special permit beyond contractor license.
- Open-loop geothermal (We 602.38): May require drinking water or injection well permit. Contact NHDES Groundwater Bureau.
- Monitoring wells: Licensed technical driller required (RSA 482-B). Discharging/reinjecting purge water may require UIC permit.
Drilling Conditions by Region
- Granite and schist bedrock (hard drilling)
- Low yields (few GPM typical)
- Diamond core bits or heavy-duty rotary required
- Locating fracture zones critical for adequate yield
- Radon common in granite formations
- Metamorphic gneiss/limestone bedrock
- Moderate yields in fracture zones
- Some glacial outwash in valleys
- Typical depths 100–250 ft
- Hardness common (calcium/magnesium)
- High arsenic risk zone (~19% wells >10 ppb)
- Bedrock fractures in granite/gneiss
- Limited gravel aquifers in coastal terraces
- Depths 100–300 ft typical
- Recommend arsenic testing for all wells
- Glacial outwash in Merrimack River valley
- Bedrock wells in upland areas
- Nitrate risk near agricultural areas
- Arsenic elevated in some bedrock zones
- Depths 100–200 ft common
Drilling Challenges
Hard Rock
Nearly all drillers encounter very hard, abrasive bedrock. Diamond core bits or heavy-duty rotary drills are essential. Expect slow drilling in granite/gneiss.
Low Yields
Fractured-bedrock wells often yield only a few GPM. Locating fracture zones (via geologic clues or air-hammer drilling) is critical. Some wells "go dry" seasonally.
Seasonal Recharge
Water tables peak in spring (thaw/heavy rains). Winter frost rarely penetrates below 3 ft. Track seasonal recharge patterns when siting wells.
Resources & Contacts
NHDES Drinking Water & Groundwater Bureau
Well reports, water quality, technical assistance
USGS New Hampshire Water Science Center
Aquifer maps, geology data, groundwater studies
Regulatory References
- NH RSA 482-B – Water Well Board licensing and requirements
- NH Admin. Code We 600 – Well construction standards and reporting
- We 602.07 – Well location setbacks from septic systems
- We 604.05 – Well abandonment sealing procedures
Technical Resources
- USGS Fact Sheet 030-99 – NH bedrock aquifer characteristics
- USGS Fact Sheet 051-03 – Arsenic concentrations in SE NH bedrock wells
- NHDES Private Wells – Private well and water quality resources
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I renew my New Hampshire driller license?
What are the CE requirements for New Hampshire drillers?
How soon must I file the well completion report?
What are the setback requirements in New Hampshire?
Looking for Homeowner Information?
Check out our New Hampshire well guide for homeowners covering costs, permits, and water quality.
New Hampshire Homeowner Well Guide →