Forms & Resources
Water Well Driller's Report (CN-0825)
Required for every completed well. Due within 60 days.
Get Form ↗Notice of Intent
Required before drilling a water well. $75 fee per property site (Form CN-1240).
Get Form ↗All Required Forms
- CN-1240: Notice of Intent, filed before drilling ($75 fee, waived in jurisdictions with an approved local program)
- CN-0825: Water Well Driller\'s Report (completion report)
- CN-1241: Well Closure / Abandonment Report (60 days)
- CN-1029: Payment Summary (sent with report fees)
- CN-1168: License Application
- CN-1167: Affidavit of Supervision
- CN-0818: License Renewal Application
Email Submission: Submit license applications, renewals and forms to Water.Well@tn.gov. To mail a renewal instead, call 615-532-0192 first; do not mail documents with payment to the Division of Fiscal Services.
Licensing Requirements
Tennessee requires individual licenses per TCA Title 69, Chapter 10 and TDEC Rule 0400-45-09. Licenses are issued to individuals (not companies).
License Types & Fees
| License Type | Fee | Term |
|---|---|---|
| Water Well Driller (W) | $100 | Annual (July 31) |
| Monitor Well Driller (M) | $100 | Annual (July 31) |
| Geothermal Well Driller (G) | $100 | Annual (July 31) |
| Geothermal Borehole Only Drilling (B) | $100 | Annual (July 31) |
| Well Closure/Abandonment (C) | $100 | Annual (July 31) |
| Pump Installer (P) | $50 | Annual (July 31) |
| Closed-Loop Geothermal Installer (L) | $50 | Annual (July 31) |
| Water Treatment Installer (T) | $50 | Annual (July 31) |
Experience Requirements
- Minimum experience: 2 years relevant experience (documented)
- Written exam: General exam plus a specialty exam for each license category; 70% required on each
- Board interview: Board of Groundwater Management reviews experience and exam results
Annual Renewal
- Deadline: July 31 annually
- Renewal notices: Postcard and email around May 15; TDEC does not accept renewals submitted before then
- Fee: Same as original application ($100 or $50 depending on license type)
- Late renewal: License expires if not renewed by July 31; requires reapplication
- Submission: Email the renewal application, Affidavits of Supervision (operator cards lapse without a new one) and CE proof to Water.Well@tn.gov
- Payment: TDEC Fiscal Services mails an invoice; pay it at the TDEC customer portal or by mail
Continuing Education
- Hours required: 5 hours per license year (Aug 1 - Jul 31); a licensee in the first year of a first license is exempt; hours do not carry over (Rule 0400-45-09-.06(1)(i))
- Providers: TDEC lists courses (All Star Training, Franklin Electric, Goulds, NGWA, TWWA and others) and says "None of the listings below are sponsored by the Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation"; for an unlisted course, "please reach out to water.well@tn.gov for instructions for preapproval of specific courses"
- Topics: Well drilling, pump installation and water treatment; TDEC: "Courses regarding regulatory requirements in states other than Tennessee will not be accepted for Tennessee CEU credit."
- Submission: Email certificates with the renewal application
Application Process
Email the application with experience documentation to Water.Well@tn.gov; TDEC arranges payment of the application fee by email. When the application is complete, TDEC sends the date, time and place of the written exam. After you pass, you are scheduled for an interview with the Board of Groundwater Management, which recommends licensing to the Commissioner.
Reporting & Documentation
| Document | Deadline | Submit To |
|---|---|---|
| Notice of Intent | Before drilling begins (valid 180 days) | TDEC ($75 per property site) |
| Well Construction Report (CN-0825) | 60 days after completion | TDEC + owner copy |
| Well Abandonment Report | 60 days after abandonment | TDEC |
| License Renewal | By July 31 annually (TDEC accepts renewals after about May 15) | Email to Water.Well@tn.gov; fee paid on the TDEC invoice |
| CE Certificates | Submit with annual renewal | 5 hours per license year (Aug 1 - Jul 31) |
Well Construction Report Requirements
Form CN-0825 must include:
- Owner name, contact information, and property location
- Date of completion
- Detailed well log: depth and lithology (formation descriptions)
- Water-bearing zones encountered
- Casing sizes, materials (PVC, steel), and depths
- Grouting/sealing information (methods and materials)
- Yield observations and pump test data (if conducted)
Abandonment Report
When sealing/plugging a well, file abandonment report within 60 days. Must include:
- Detailed cross-section showing well position relative to landmarks
- Nearby septic lines and contamination sources
- Sealing method (slip-seal, bentonite grout, etc.)
- Diagram of plugging materials and depths
Record Retention
Keep copies of all well reports, NOI receipts, and CE certificates for at least 3 years. TDEC may audit records for compliance verification.
Construction Standards (0400-45-09)
Casing Requirements
- Depth: Minimum 19 ft below land surface (or to bedrock/aquifer top)
- Material: New or like-new steel or NSF/ASTM-certified plastic (ASTM F480, NSF-pw)
- Diameter: Meet Table B standards (typically 6⅝″ steel in East/Mid TN; 4″ in West TN)
- Extension: Must extend ≥6 inches above ground (or in sealed manhole)
- Consolidated rock: Casing sealed below all crevices that release poor-quality water or mud, or at least 5 ft below the top of the rock, whichever is greater
PVC Casing Restriction
Plastic casing is only approved for unconsolidated zones. Do not use plastic in consolidated rock formations.
Annular Seal (Grouting)
- Material: Cement or bentonite slurry (impervious grout)
- Depth: Seal from 3-10 ft below surface, fill to below casing
- Methods: Pour/pump grout, pressure grouting if required for full annular fill
- Surface seal: 2 ft cement top barrier required
- Annulus: Annular space at least 1.5 in. for pressure or pumped grout, 2 in. for other methods; cement or NSF/ANSI 60 or 61 bentonite only (drilling-fluid bentonite is prohibited as grout)
- Special cases: A well 10 to 25 ft from a property line needs at least 35 ft of casing with the annulus sealed with cement or bentonite to 35 ft (Rule .10(2)(d))
Setback Requirements
| Contamination Source | Minimum Distance |
|---|---|
| Sewage lagoons, leaching pits | 200 ft |
| Animal lots, sludge sites | 100 ft |
| Pit privies | 75 ft |
| Sewer lines, septic tanks, drain fields | 50 ft |
| Property lines (10-25 ft needs 35 ft of casing, annulus sealed to 35 ft) | 10 ft (minimum) |
| Building projections (well centerline must clear any projection) | 5 ft |
| House-to-septic/sewer connections (tight-line) | 10 ft |
Floodplain Requirements
If well is in a floodplain, casing must extend ≥2 ft above the 100-year flood level.
Disinfection
Every water well is disinfected after construction, reworking, pump installation or repair, and both the driller and the pump installer are responsible (Rule 0400-45-09-.12). Required procedure:
- Add ~1 gallon household bleach per 50 ft of well depth
- Circulate chlorinated water through home plumbing until chlorine smell detected
- Let stand 12+ hours
- Flush thoroughly before use
Permits
Notice of Intent
Notice of Intent and Exemptions
Per TCA §69-10-111, file Notice of Intent before drilling begins.
- Fee: $75 per property site (Rule 0400-45-09-.10(1)(d)); not charged again if the owner paid for the same property within the past 5 years. TDEC's payment summary form (CN-1029) words it as $75 per well, so confirm with TDEC for several wells on one site
- Geothermal: $75 up to 10 boreholes; $150 for 11–50; $500 for 51 or more. Closed-loop test hole: $75.
- Who files: Driller or well owner; the driller must hold the receipt or confirmation number before drilling and send proof of the fee with the driller's report
- Submission: TDEC Division of Water Resources
- Not required for: well closure, deepening or reworking a well
- Validity: The notice expires 180 days after it is filed
- Waiver: Fee waived in jurisdictions authorized to regulate wells that run an approved local inspection program (Shelby County)
Local Permits
Some counties/municipalities regulate wells locally (home-rule charters or private acts). Examples:
- Shelby County (Memphis): Requires local well construction permit via Pollution Control Office
- Other jurisdictions: May require building permits or septic coordination
Always verify local requirements before drilling.
High-Capacity Well Registration
Water withdrawals of 10,000 gallons or more on any day must be registered with TDEC per Tennessee's Water Resources Information Act (TCA §69-7-301). Public water systems report pumpage monthly and other registrants file the Water Withdrawal Registration Form by February 15, both in MyTDEC Forms (forms.tdec.tn.gov).
Special Well Permits
- Geothermal (closed-loop): Follow Rule 0400-45-09-.17; no special permit beyond driller license
- Geothermal (open-loop): May require UIC (Underground Injection Control) permit if injecting return water
- Monitoring wells: No special permit; follow standard construction rules
- Injection/disposal wells: Require UIC permits under Safe Drinking Water Act
Drilling Conditions by Region
West Tennessee (Coastal Plain)
- Unconsolidated sands and gravels (Memphis Sand aquifer)
- Typical depths: 30-100 ft
- Often artesian/pressurized zones - use safety valves
- Common casing: 4″ steel or NSF-rated plastic
Middle Tennessee (Interior Plateau)
- Karst limestone/dolomite (Mississippian formations)
- Fractured bedrock and caverns common
- Typical depths: 100-500+ ft
- Seal casing through shale/contaminated zones
East Tennessee (Ridge & Valley)
- Cambrian-Ordovician carbonates, sandstone, shale
- Down-the-hole hammers often required
- Typical depths: 100-500+ ft (sometimes >1,000 ft)
- Hard rock drilling, variable yields
Cumberland Plateau
- Sandstone and shale formations
- Fractured rock aquifers
- May encounter low-yield zones
- Coalfield areas - watch for arsenic
Geology Resources
Review TDEC's groundwater data and well log database for typical drilling conditions in your area. Contact TDEC Division of Water Resources for regional hydrogeology information.
Seasonal Considerations
- Winter: Mild (frost depth 2-3 ft); winter drilling generally feasible
- Spring/Summer: High water tables, potential flooding; wells in floodplains require 2 ft above 100-year flood
- Wet seasons: Drill mud recovery challenges in clay zones
- Drought: Temporarily lowered water tables; coordinate with DWR if unable to complete productive well
Resources & Contacts
TDEC Division of Water Resources
Well licensing, forms, regulations, reports
TDEC Water Well Licensing
Renewal questions; instructions for mailing a renewal instead of emailing it
Tennessee Water Well Association (TWWA)
Industry association, CE courses, networking
Regulatory References
- TCA Title 69, Chapter 10 – Tennessee Water Well Act
- TDEC Rule 0400-45-09 – Water Well Licensing Regulations and Construction Standards
- 0400-45-09-.10 – Well Construction Standards (technical details)
- TCA §69-10-111 – Notice of Intent requirement
- TCA §69-10-103 – Drilling requirements and inspections
Approved CE Providers
Course providers TDEC lists for continuing education (TDEC does not sponsor them) include:
- All Star Training
- American Ground Water Trust (AGWT)
- Franklin Electric
- Goulds Water Technology
- National Ground Water Association (NGWA)
- Tennessee Water Well Association (TWWA)
Check TDEC website for complete list and course schedules.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I renew my Tennessee driller license?
Licenses expire July 31. TDEC accepts renewals after about May 15 (earlier submissions are not accepted). Email the Renewal Application (CN-0818), any Affidavits of Supervision and proof of 5 hours of CE to Water.Well@tn.gov, then pay the invoice TDEC Fiscal Services sends you. License expires if not renewed by July 31; requires reapplication. The fee is $100 for drillers or $50 for pump installers; first-year license holders are exempt from the CE requirement.
What are the CE requirements for Tennessee drillers?
5 hours of Board- or Director-approved continuing education per license year (August 1 to July 31); a licensee in the first year of a first license is exempt. Training must relate to well drilling, pump installation or water treatment; hours do not carry over. TDEC: "None of the listings below are sponsored by the Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation"; for an unlisted course, "please reach out to water.well@tn.gov for instructions for preapproval of specific courses". "Courses regarding regulatory requirements in states other than Tennessee will not be accepted for Tennessee CEU credit." Submit proof with the renewal.
How soon must I file the well log?
Within 60 days after completion. Use Form CN-0825 (Water Well Driller's Report) and submit to TDEC Division of Water Resources. Provide a copy to the well owner.
What are the minimum setback requirements in Tennessee?
200 ft from sewage lagoons and leaching pits, 100 ft from animal pens and sludge or septage sites, 75 ft from pit privies, 50 ft from sewer lines, septic tanks and drain fields, and 10 ft from a property line (10 to 25 ft requires 35 ft of casing sealed to 35 ft). The well centerline must clear any building projection by 5 ft (Rule 0400-45-09-.10(2)). House-to-sewer/septic connections may be 10 ft only if the line is tight. Additional site-specific requirements may apply.
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