Forms & Resources
Required before drilling. Ties well to approved water right. Submit online, phone, fax, or email.
Access Start Card System ↗Required for every well. Due within 30 days after completion.
Download Form ↗All Utah Well Forms
- Start Card: Drilling authorization (submit before drilling)
- WD-4: Well Construction Report (Well Log) – 30 days after completion
- WD-7: Pump Installer Report – 30 days after pump work
- WD-5: Well Abandonment Report – 30 days after plugging
- Bond Forms: UTWD-6 (cash bond), UTWD-7 (surety bond)
Licensing Requirements
Utah requires licensed drillers for all regulated well work per Utah Code §73-3-25 and Admin Rule R655-4.
License Types & Fees
Eligibility Requirements
Water Well Driller
- Age ≥21 years
- 2 years experience OR 16 wells under supervision
- $5,000 bond (cash or surety)
- Pass written + oral exams (70% passing)
- Tests: Admin Rules, Map Reading, Groundwater, Rig Methods
Drill Rig Operator
- Age ≥18 years
- 6 months experience with each rig type
- Pass open-book construction standards exam (80%)
- Must work under licensed driller
- Re-register biennially ($50)
Continuing Education (CE)
Renewal Cycle
All licenses expire June 30 biennially (2-year cycle) by last name:
- A–L: Renew on odd years
- M–Z: Renew on even years
Submit renewal form, fee, proof of $5,000 bond, and 12 CE credits before 11:59 PM June 30.
Reporting & Documentation
Start Card (Drilling Authorization)
Before any regulated drilling, you must obtain a Start Card from the State Engineer. The Start Card ties the well to an approved water right (homeowner applies for water right).
- Submit Start Card info online, by phone, fax, or email to Division of Water Rights
- Keep a copy on-site during drilling
- No separate fee for Start Card (covered by water right application)
Well Log Requirements (Form WD-4)
The well construction report must include:
- Well ID (water right number or non-production well number)
- Location (Township-Range-Section)
- Depth and lithology (formation descriptions)
- Water-bearing zones encountered
- Casing sizes, materials, depths, and joint types
- Grouting/sealing details (depths, materials, volumes)
- Static and pumping water levels
- Pump data (if installed)
Construction Standards (R655-4)
Casing Materials
Casing Requirements
- Stick-Up: Casing must extend ≥18 inches above ground
- Cap: Durable, watertight cap or welded/sealed plate with screened vent
- Joints: Steel joints must be screw-coupled or fully welded (AWS standards)
- Plastic Joints: Mechanically or chemically fused per ANSI-ASTM guidelines
Grouting/Sealing (R655-4-11)
Disinfection (R655-4-11)
Upon completion, the driller must chlorinate the entire well (static level to bottom) to at least 100 ppm free chlorine. Use NSF-61 certified sodium or calcium hypochlorite. Household bleach with additives is NOT allowed.
Setbacks
Utah's well rules do not specify uniform setback distances (governed by local regulations). Common local health department recommendations:
- ≥100 ft from septic tanks/drainfields
- ≥50 ft from manure piles
- ≥10 ft downslope from any contamination source
- ≥150 ft from livestock yards, pesticide sites (if PVC casing)
Consult local county health department for exact requirements.
Permits
Water Rights (Homeowner Applies)
Any well that diverts groundwater requires a valid water right from the State Engineer (Utah Code Title 73). The homeowner applies for appropriation; you cannot legally drill without the approved Start Card.
Public Water Supply Wells
Wells serving ≥25 people or requiring treatment need DEQ Division of Drinking Water approval (Rule R309-515/R309-600). Involves design review, hydrogeologic assessment, and mandatory grout inspections.
Special Wells
- Geothermal/Closed-Loop (≥30 ft): Requires State Engineer approval letter before drilling. Must follow R655-4-11 construction standards plus full-length grout with 24-hour cure.
- Monitoring/Test Wells: Requires "monitor well letter" from State Engineer. Must be cased and sealed per R655-4-11.
- Cathodic Protection Wells: Must meet R655-4-11 standards plus additional sealing requirements. Annulus filled with clean sand/gravel or non-polluting fill.
County/Local Permits
Individual counties may impose additional requirements (building permits, septic evaluations, setback verifications). Consult county health department and planning office for specific requirements.
Drilling Conditions by Region
- Faulted ranges with alluvial basins
- Paleozoic carbonates, Quaternary sediment in valleys
- Saturated thickness often 500–1,500 ft
- Yields: 100–1,000 gpm in basin-fill deposits
- Watch for confined aquifers (artesian conditions)
- Basin-fill aquifers: sand/gravel layers
- Typical depths: 50–300 ft (domestic/irrigation)
- Deep municipal wells: 300–800 ft
- Basalt flows at 200–400 ft (Pleistocene)
- Seasonal water table fluctuations (±10–20 ft)
- Book Cliffs and Wasatch conglomerates/shales
- Typical depths: 150–500 ft to reach freshwater sands
- Green River or Wasatch Formations
- Hard strata requires careful drilling
- Layered Paleozoic–Mesozoic sedimentary rocks
- Jurassic sandstones: Navajo, Wingate, Entrada
- Typical depths: 300–1,500 ft (often >1,000 ft)
- Yields: 50–500 gpm in bedrock aquifers
- Flowing/artesian wells common where Navajo confined
Seasonal Considerations
- Winter: Upper ground can freeze (especially higher elevations). Insulate mud pumps, keep water lines from freezing.
- Spring: High water tables and flooded fields (along Sevier/Bear Rivers). Time drilling for water table drops.
- Seasonal Fluctuations: Water table may vary ±10–20 ft by season. Note date of static level measurement on logs.
Resources & Contacts
Regulatory References
- Utah Code §73-3-25 – Licensed drillers required
- Utah Admin. Code R655-4 – Water well construction standards
- R655-4-11 – Well drilling and construction requirements
- R655-4-4 – Administrative requirements and general procedures
Professional Associations
- Utah Ground Water Association (UGWA): State-level driller association
- Mountain States Ground Water Association (MSGWA): Regional (UT, CO, WY) association
- National Ground Water Association (NGWA): National industry association (Utah Chapter)
Frequently Asked Questions
Looking for Homeowner Information?
Check out our Utah well guide for homeowners covering costs, water rights, and water quality.
Utah Homeowner Well Guide →