South Carolina Well Driller Guide

All SCDES Forms

• D-3647: Notice of Intent (NOI)
• D-1903: Water Well Record (completion or abandonment)

Well drillers are licensed by the S.C. Environmental Certification Board (LLR). Licenses are issued by category (Environmental, Coastal, Rock, and Bored) and class (A–D).

License Requirements

Applicants must be ≥18 years, pass the Board exam, submit application & fee, and carry a $25,000 surety bond (per S.C. Code §40-23-280).

License Fees

Submit LLR application (fee $50) and schedule the exam online through PSI. The driller exam fee is $99 (paid to PSI). On passing, send exam results and renewal fee ($50) to LLR.

License Classes

A Class A driller may drill all types; lower classes have restrictions.

Renewal

Driller licenses renew biennially (each odd-numbered year). Renewal notices sent by April; deadline June 30, 2025 for 2023–24 cycle. Renewal fee is $50. A $200 late penalty applies if not renewed by June 30. Lapsed >365 days require reinstatement (cannot simply renew).

Continuing Education

Well Record Requirements (Form D-1903)

Within 30 days after finishing a well, the contractor must file a Water Well Record (Form D-1903). This is SCDES's official completion report form. It can be submitted via the ePermitting system. The form must include:

• Drilling details, depths, lithology logs
• Yield test and pumping information
• Water-bearing zones encountered
• Casing sizes, materials, and depths
• Grouting/sealing information (tremie method required)
• Disinfection details and results
• Bacteriological or chemical tests done (attach if available)

A separate report is required if the well is subsequently abandoned.

Abandonment Reporting

If a well is permanently taken out of service, the driller must also submit the Form D-1903 (notifying SCDES of abandonment). Abandoned wells must be properly sealed (see R.61-71.I and 61-71.J).

Regulation R.61-71 (Well Standards) is the main state code for private residential and irrigation wells. The permitting rule R.61-44 governs the individual well permit/NOI process.

Quick Reference Table

Casing Materials

• Steel: New ASTM-approved steel or galvanized pipe with watertight joints. Steel casing shall be standard or heavier (≥0.188" wall).
• Thermoplastic (PVC): ASTM-approved thermoplastic pipe with watertight joints
• Casing extension: Casing must extend at least 1 ft above ground (or flush if protected by a cover and sealed piping)

Annular Seal (Grouting)

R.61-71 contains detailed construction specs. Key points include:

• Minimum 1.5" annular space around casing for tremie grouting
• Annular area grouted with neat cement/bentonite from ≥20 ft depth to surface
• In consolidated rock, set casing into the rock; in sand, seal to 20 ft or first confining layer
• Use tremie pipe method for proper grout placement

Drilling & Development

• Drive/drill straight plumb, develop to clear fines
• Wells are tested for yield as drilled

Setback Requirements

R.61-71.E gives source-specific water-well siting distances. E.2 may require increased separation for vulnerable formations or shallow casing.

Use the source-specific distances in R.61-71.E; the distances for siting new animal facilities do not govern siting water wells.

Disinfection (Mandatory)

Every private well (residential or irrigation) must be disinfected after construction (and after any pump work). Disinfect with chlorine so that free chlorine is 50–250 mg/L for ≥4 hours, then flush.

Well Identification

After completion, affix a durable ID plate on the casing with driller name/ID, completion date, total depth, and casing depth.

Standard Well Permits (NOI)

All residential and irrigation wells require a Notice of Intent (NOI) before drilling. This is South Carolina's general permit under R.61-44.

• Fee: $70 (residential), $50 (irrigation)
• Review time: SCDES has up to 48 hours to review
• Submission: Online via ePermitting or Form D-3647
• Pre-drill notice: Give SCDES 48 hours notice before drilling; this notice may run concurrently with NOI review

High-Capacity Wells

In a designated Capacity Use Area, a non-exempt groundwater withdrawer taking over 3 million gallons in any month (~69 gpm continuous) needs a SCDES Groundwater Withdrawal Permit under R.61-113. Commonly owned wells within one mile are aggregated. Section J exempts emergencies, non-consumptive use, sole-purpose wildlife management and single-family noncommercial use. Dewatering, certain crystalline-bedrock wells, same-capacity replacements and qualifying ASR wells have additional exemptions. Outside Capacity Use Areas, registration requirements may apply.

Special Well Types

• Geothermal (ground-source heat pump) wells: Covered under R.61-71.J. They must avoid connecting aquifers of differing pressures/quality and be grouted per Section J standards. Report them with Form D-1903 (as "other well") within 30 days.
• Monitoring wells (environmental or geotechnical): All constructed monitoring wells must have Department pre-approval of location and design. After completion or abandonment, a Water Well Record (Form D-1903) is also required within 30 days. Monitoring wells typically require extra grouting (per R.61-71.H). Contact SCDES (Groundwater Protection) before drilling any monitoring/compliance well.

SC has two major water-drilling provinces with very different geology and drilling conditions.

Regional Challenges

Arsenic Testing Recommended

Naturally elevated arsenic is found in many South Carolina aquifers (especially some granite and Coastal Plain zones). SCDES strongly recommends testing all new wells for arsenic (SC MCL 0.010 mg/L). Drillers should note that higher pH (>8.5) conditions often coincide with higher arsenic. No special casing rule for arsenic exists, but well placement and routine testing are advised in known arsenic-prone areas.

Radium in Sandhills

Nitrates (from agriculture) and radium (notably in Sandhills) are also concerns in parts of SC. Test wells per guidance. If contaminants exist, owners must treat or abandon the well.

Wellhead Protection Areas

Public Water Supply (PWS) wellhead areas have special restrictions. If drilling near a known PWS wellhead protection area, coordinate with SCDES and local authorities. Such areas typically require extra setbacks and prohibitions on potential pollution sources. (Maps of SWPA boundaries are in SCDES's Source Water Assessment Reports.)

Well Abandonment

Abandoned wells must be properly sealed per R.61-71.I and 61-71.J. Submit Form D-1903 (abandonment report) to SCDES within 30 days. Properly seal to prevent cross-contamination of aquifers.

Regulatory References

• SC Code Title 40, Chapter 23 – Environmental Systems Operators (driller licensing)
• Regulation R.61-71 – Well Construction Standards (complete text)
• Regulation R.61-44 – Individual Residential Well Permitting
• R.61-71.F – Individual Residential and Irrigation Wells (detailed construction specs)
• R.61-71.J – Geothermal System Wells
• R.61-71.H – Monitoring Wells

Forms & Web Systems

• SCDES ePermitting portal handles the NOI and well record forms
• LLR's eService (eservice.llr.sc.gov) is used for license applications/renewals
• R.61-71, R.61-44, and related regs are on the SCDES Water Regs & Standards site

Industry Associations

• South Carolina Ground Water Association (SCGWA): scgwa.org | (803) 356-6809 - Training, certification, contractor listing
• National Ground Water Association (NGWA): ngwa.org | 1-800-551-7379 - National industry association, training resources