Forms & Resources
Required for every completed well. Due within 30 days per SDCL 46-6.
Download Form ↗Required when abandoning/plugging a well. Due within 30 days.
Download Form ↗All DANR Forms
- Form E1621: Water Well Completion Report (required for all wells)
- Form D1622: Well and Test Hole Plugging Report
- Form D1623: Well Rehabilitation Report
- Licenses: New application D0500 (driller, written exam also required) and D1603 (pump installer); annual renewal D1586 (driller) and D1676 (pump installer)
- Water Right Permits: Required for irrigation, commercial, industrial, institutional and recreation uses, and for domestic use above 25,920 gal/day or 25 gpm peak
Licensing Requirements
South Dakota requires licensed Well Drillers and Well Pump Installers per SDCL 46-6. Operating a drilling rig without a license is illegal, and the words "South Dakota Licensed Well Driller No." must be displayed at a conspicuous place where the work is done (SDCL 46-6-9).
License Fees & Renewal
| License Type | Fee | Term | Renewal Deadline |
|---|---|---|---|
| Well Driller (Resident) | $200 | Annual | Jan 31 |
| Well Driller (Nonresident) | $300 | Annual | Jan 31 |
| Well Pump Installer (Resident) | $200 | Annual | Jan 31 |
| Well Pump Installer (Nonresident) | $300 | Annual | Jan 31 |
Exam & Experience Requirements
- New licenses: Open-book written exam required, 70% to pass (contact DANR at 605-773-3352 to request it; ARSD 74:02:01:42.09)
- Experience documentation: Dates, companies, supervisor names, well types, cementing/grouting experience
- License representative: Must designate a license representative with documented qualifications
- No separate rig operator license: Operating rigs falls under Well Driller license
Continuing Education
- Amount: 4 hours per calendar year for each license representative, drillers and pump installers alike (ARSD 74:02:01:43.11); hours beyond four carry over to the next year
- Topics: Wells and borings, drilling technology, groundwater contamination, health aspects of water quality, groundwater monitoring, geology, hydrology, well construction and plugging, water systems and treatment, or other subjects the chief engineer approves
- Course criteria: Written objective, knowledgeable presenter, at least one contact hour, documented attendance (ARSD 74:02:01:42.08)
- Renewal: Attach CE documentation to the renewal application (ARSD 74:02:01:42.04)
Reporting & Documentation
| Document | Deadline | Submit To |
|---|---|---|
| Well Completion Report (Form E1621) | Within 30 days of completion | DANR Water Rights |
| Well Plugging Report (Form D1622) | Within 30 days of plugging | DANR Water Rights |
| Well Rehabilitation Report (Form D1623) | Within 30 days of rehabilitation | DANR Water Rights |
| License Renewal | Postmarked by January 31 annually; later renewals are rejected and the applicant applies as new | DANR Water Rights |
| CE Certificates | 4 hours per calendar year; documentation with the renewal | Submit with renewal |
Well Completion Report Requirements
Form E1621 must include:
- Owner name and address
- Location (legal description and coordinates)
- Total depth and depth to water-bearing zones
- Lithology (formation descriptions)
- Casing sizes, materials, and depths
- Grouting/sealing information and volumes
- Pump test data (yield, drawdown, static level)
- Disinfection method and date
No Pre-Drilling Notification
South Dakota has no pre-drilling permit or notification requirement for water wells (beyond water-right permits for large-capacity wells). Drilling may proceed once the owner obtains any required water-right permit.
Construction Standards (ARSD 74:02:04)
Casing Materials
- All casing: Must be new or like-new condition
- Approved materials: Steel, thermoplastic (PVC), copper, fiberglass, concrete, precast
- Joints: Must be straight and watertight per manufacturer specs
- Standards: Follow ARSD 74:02:04:42 for casing connections
Grouting Requirements
- ARSD 74:02:04:28: confined-aquifer wells are "pressure-grouted with bentonite grout or cement grout from the top of the producing aquifer to the ground surface or to the base of the pitless unit"; unconfined-aquifer wells "from a depth no more than 4 feet above the top of the aquifer or to a depth of 20 feet below grade, whichever is nearest to ground surface, up to the ground surface or to the base of the pitless unit". Cement grout is :53, bentonite grout :53.01, minimum volumes :55
- Annular seal required to isolate aquifers
- Minimum hole diameters specified in ARSD 74:02:04:57
- Gravel pack and centralizers per ARSD 74:02:04:50–52
Setback Requirements
| Contamination Source | Minimum Distance |
|---|---|
| Pollution sources (shallow aquifer <100 ft) | ≥150 ft |
| Septic systems (shallow aquifer <100 ft) | ≥75 ft |
| Pollution sources (deep aquifer >100 ft) | ≥100 ft |
| Septic systems (deep aquifer >100 ft) | ≥50 ft |
| Sewer lines (any aquifer depth) | 30 ft minimum |
| Distribution-system wells: Wastewater plants, pump stations, hazmat and bulk fuel/fertilizer/pesticide storage | ≥500 ft |
| Distribution-system wells: Landfills, dumps, sewage lagoons, wastewater ditches | ≥1,000 ft |
| Buildings or overhead structures | ≥10 ft |
| Power lines | ≥10 ft |
* Monitoring wells assessing contamination are exempt from setback rules per ARSD 74:02:04:24.
Disinfection
All new, reconditioned, or repaired wells must be disinfectedfollowing ARSD 74:02:04 Appendix H. Typical procedure:
- Fill well with chlorine solution (50-100 mg/L dose)
- Circulate throughout casing and all lengths
- Post-development sampling to confirm bacteria-free water
- Document dosage and method on completion report
Flowing Wells
ARSD 74:02:04:76: "Any well that flows or may flow shall be constructed to allow the completed well to be completely shut off or the flow reduced to no more than 5 gallons per minute to prevent freezing when not in use." ARSD 74:02:04:72: "If the surface pressure, also known as artesian pressure, of any flowing well exceeds 60 psi, the well driller shall install a pressure regulator valve after installing the main control valve, but before installing any flow reducers. Irrigation wells are exempt from this section."
Permits
Large-Capacity Wells
DANR: "The only type of water use which does not require a water right permit is domestic use. However, even domestic use of water requires a permit if your water use exceeds either 25,920 gallons per day or a peak pump rate of 25 gallons per minute." A water-right permit must be approved before drilling for:
- Irrigation wells
- Commercial, industrial and institutional wells
- Recreation and fish and wildlife propagation
- Municipal, rural water and subdivision systems above 18 gpm. DANR: "It should also be noted that water distribution systems using 18 gallons per minute or less do not need to get a water right permit. Water distribution systems include municipalities, rural water systems, suburban housing developments, etc."
Permit applications are submitted to DANR Water Rights. Processing typically takes ~2 months if uncontested. Once approved, you have 5 years to construct the system and 4 more years to put all the water to beneficial use; a "Notice of Completion of Works" is then filed for inspection. ARSD 74:02:04:21: "Before drilling a well for which a water permit is required, the well owner shall obtain a permit"; "Following a request, the chief engineer may authorize construction of a test well prior to approval of a permit. The construction and testing does not constitute construction of works for appropriation of water pursuant to SDCL 46-5-9."
No Local Permits
South Dakota has no additional county well-permitting beyond state rules. All licensing, setback, and construction standards are statewide. Counties may set drilling hours or local zoning, but no separate local drilling permits are required.
Special Well Types
- Geothermal (closed-loop): Requires licensed driller per ARSD 74:02:04:38, but no special permit beyond driller license
- Monitoring wells: Exempt from setback rules if installed solely for contamination assessment
Drilling Conditions by Region
- Shallow glacially derived aquifers (sand/gravel)
- Typical depths: 50–150 ft
- Moderate yields, unconsolidated formations
- Watch for nitrate in agricultural areas
- Proper grouting critical to prevent collapse
- Hard rock: Precambrian granite and Paleozoic limestone
- Typical depths: 300–1,000+ ft
- Fractured rock drilling, slow penetration
- Madison/Deadwood formations, often artesian
- Requires heavy-duty equipment and casing
- Dakota, Minnelusa, Lakota, Madison aquifers
- Artesian or semi-artesian conditions common
- Pressure regulators often required (ARSD 74:02:04:72)
- Depths vary widely: 200–800 ft typical
- Ogallala aquifer (Tertiary)
- Typical depths: 50–200 ft
- Generally ample yields
- Watch for water table drawdown in irrigation areas
Seasonal Considerations
- Frozen ground: Frost line ~3–4 ft. Well pits prohibited; use above-ground completions
- Flooding: Casing must stand at least 24 inches above the high-water level where flooding occurs (ARSD 74:02:04:27)
- Water table fluctuations: Seasonal recharge in spring; drought can lower tables significantly
- Winter drilling: Equipment winterization critical; mud can freeze in extreme cold
Resources & Contacts
SD Well Drillers Association (SDWDA)
Industry association, training, conventions (licensing info via DANR)
Regulatory References
- ARSD 74:02:04 – Well Construction Standards (complete chapter)
- SDCL 46-6 – Groundwater and Wells (licensing, reporting, plugging)
- ARSD 74:02:01:42.08 – Continuing education criteria for drillers
- ARSD 74:02:04:24 – Well location setback requirements
Industry Resources
- SD Well Drillers Association (SDWDA): Training, conventions, networking (605-390-3233)
- DANR Forms Portal: All licensing and reporting forms available online
- License Verification: apps.sd.gov/nr68welllogs/driller (public lookup)
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I renew my South Dakota driller license?
What are the CE requirements for South Dakota drillers?
How soon must I file the well completion report?
What are the setback requirements in South Dakota?
Looking for Homeowner Information?
Check out our South Dakota well guide for homeowners covering costs, permits, and water quality.
South Dakota Homeowner Well Guide →