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. $75 fee to TDEC.
Get Form ↗All Required Forms
- Notice of Intent: Filed before drilling ($75 fee, waived in counties with local regulation)
- CN-0825: Water Well Driller\'s Report (completion report)
- Abandonment Report: Required when sealing/plugging wells (60 days)
- CN-1168: License Application
- CN-1167: Affidavit of Supervision
- CN-0818: License Renewal Application
Email Submission: Submit well reports and forms to Water.Well@tn.gov or mail to TDEC Division of Water Resources.
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
Experience Requirements
- Minimum experience: 2 years relevant experience (documented)
- Written exam: General exam + specialty exam if applicable (70% passing recommended)
- Board interview: Board of Groundwater Management reviews experience and exam results
Annual Renewal
- Deadline: July 31 annually
- Renewal notices: Issued ~May 15 (renewals not accepted before mid-May)
- Fee: Same as original application ($100 or $50 depending on license type)
- Late renewal: License expires if not renewed by July 31; requires reapplication
- Payment: Online via TDEC Invoice Payment Portal
Continuing Education
- Hours required: 5 hours per year (waived first partial year)
- Providers: TDEC-approved providers only (All Star Training, Franklin Electric, Goulds, NGWA, etc.)
- Topics: Well technology, safety, water quality, design
- Submission: Submit certificates with annual renewal application
Application Process
Submit application with fee, experience documentation, and proof of qualifications. After TDEC approves, schedule written exam through Board. Pass exam, then interview with Board of Groundwater Management.
Reporting & Documentation
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 must be sealed below undesirable zones
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
- Special cases: If well within 25 ft of property line, bottom 35 ft must be glazed by grout
Setback Requirements
Floodplain Requirements
If well is in a floodplain, casing must extend ≥2 ft above the 100-year flood level.
Disinfection
State construction standards require both driller and pump installer to disinfect the wellafter completion. Standard 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 (Required)
All Wells Require NOI
Per TCA §69-10-111, file Notice of Intent before drilling begins.
- Fee: $75 per well
- Who files: Driller or well owner
- Submission: TDEC Division of Water Resources
- Waiver: Fee waived in counties/municipalities with local regulation and inspection
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
Wells withdrawing ≥10,000 gallons/day must be registered with TDEC per Tennessee's Water Resources Information Act (TCA §69-7-301). Submit pumpage data using forms CN-1119/CN-1226.
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
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
TDEC-approved continuing education providers 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
Renew online through TDEC before July 31 each year. Fee is $100 for drillers or $50 for pump installers. You must complete 5 hours of approved CE annually and submit certificates with your renewal application.
5 hours of approved continuing education each year (waived first partial year). Courses must be from TDEC-approved providers covering well technology, safety, and water quality. Submit certificates with annual renewal.
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.
200 ft from sewage lagoons, 100 ft from animal lots, 75 ft from pit privies, 50 ft from septic systems, and 10 ft from property lines and buildings. Additional requirements apply for special site conditions.
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