📄 Forms & Resources
📝 Notice of Intent (NOI)
Required 72 hours before starting any well work. Submit online.
Submit NOI Online ↗📝 Well Construction Report (ECY 050-1-20)
Required for every completed well. Due within 30 days.
Download Form ↗All Ecology Forms
- ECY 050-1-20: Water Well Construction Report
- ECY 050-12: Resource Protection Well Report
- ECY 050-1-13A: Trainee License Application
- ECY 050-1-21A: Operator License Application
- NOI Forms: Water Well, Monitoring Well, Dewatering Well (via online system)
Online Submission: Use the Well Construction & Licensing System (WCLS) for NOI submissions and the Well Report Gateway for construction reports.
📋 Licensing Requirements
Washington requires licensed operators for all well drilling per RCW 18.104 and WAC 173-162.
License Types & Fees
Path to Operator License
1. Trainee License
- Submit application (ECY 050-1-13A) + $75 fee
- Complete 600 hours drilling under licensed operator
- Complete 6 CEUs
- Pass written exam and Ecology field test
- Maintain daily drill log (signed by supervising driller)
2. Operator License
- New applicants: 5,400 hours experience + 32 CEUs
- From WA trainee: 3,600 hours experience + 14 CEUs
- Out-of-state (3+ years): Proof of license + experience + 32 CEUs
- Pass written exam and possible field competency test
Continuing Education
- Hours required: 14 hours per 2-year renewal cycle
- Mandatory topic: 2 hours on Washington well laws/regulations
- Providers: Ecology-approved providers only
- Topics: Drilling technology, safety, groundwater science, HAZMAT, business skills
- Submission: Email certificates to wclo@ecy.wa.gov before renewal
Pump Installers
Well pump installers must hold a combination domestic well/pump & irrigation plumber license with electrical endorsement from WA L&I. Contact L&I Plumbing Certification (360-902-5207) for requirements.
📝 Reporting & Documentation
Notice of Intent (NOI) Requirements
Property owner or contractor must notify Ecology at least 72 hours before starting work:
- Owner name, address, and well location (legal land description)
- Intended use and start date
- Contractor license number
- Operator/licensee name and license number
- Company name
NOI Fees by Well Type
Well Construction Report Requirements
Due within 30 days of completion. Must include:
- Owner and operator details, well-tag number
- Location (address and section/township)
- Dates, well purpose, total depth
- Casing depth/material, hole diameter
- Drilling method, seal materials and depths
- Geology log (stratigraphy)
- Yield test data (gpm, drawdown, recovery)
Record Retention
Keep daily drilling logs on-site during the job. Retain logs and related records until the final report is submitted to Ecology. Keep copies for at least 3 years.
📖 Construction Standards (WAC 173-160)
Casing Materials
- Steel: Corrosion-resistant steel meeting ASTM specifications (see WAC 173-160-201)
- Plastic: NSF-approved plastic materials only
- Casing must isolate all aquifers
- Minimum specs vary by depth and pressure
Annular Seal (Grouting)
- Space between casing and borehole must be grouted
- Use cement or bentonite to preserve natural confining layers
- Seal must prevent cross-contamination between aquifers
- Follow WAC 173-160-231 and -241 specifications
Setback Requirements
Local Requirements
These are state minimum setbacks. Local jurisdictions may have stricter requirements. Always check with the local health department before drilling.
Disinfection (WAC 173-160-331)
All equipment and materials entering a new well must be free of contaminants. After completion:
- Flush well and pump clean
- Add chlorine to achieve ~50 mg/L in standing water
- Hold for 24 hours
- Flush until residual chlorine ≥1 mg/L
- Flush out chlorine and take bacterial water samples
🏛️ Permits
Water Right Permits
Wells pumping above exempt-use thresholds require a water-right permit from Ecology (RCW 90.44.050):
- Exempt: Domestic or stock wells under ~5,000 gal/day or 5 acre-ft/year
- Permit required: Larger withdrawals (irrigation, commercial, multi-unit)
- Contact Ecology Water Resources program for applications
County/Local Permits
Several counties have delegated well construction enforcement (King, Pierce, Snohomish, etc.). Contact local health department before drilling:
- Some counties require their own drilling permits or site approvals
- Streamflow Rule (WAC 173-548) may impose additional fees
- May mandate connection to public water system in some areas
- Check Ecology's delegated counties list
Special Well Types
- Geothermal/Heat Pump Bores: Regulated as wells (WAC 173-160-453). NOI fees are $40 for first four bores, $10 each additional.
- Monitoring/Remediation Wells: Classified as "resource protection wells." Require licensed operator and Ecology NOI. Fee: $40 per well.
- Public Water Supply Wells: Additional DOH requirements (WAC 246-290).
🗺️ Drilling Conditions by Region
Puget Lowland (Western WA)
- Shallow aquifers in glacial-outwash sands/gravels
- Typical depth: 30-150 ft
- Yields: 5-50 gpm (moderate)
- Loose sediments, may encounter perched water
- Casing extends to confining units ~30-50 ft
- Seasonal high water tables in late winter
Columbia Basin (Eastern WA)
- Columbia River Basalts and sediments
- Typical depth: 200-600+ ft
- Yields: Very high (100+ gpm)
- Fractured basalt and sand/gravel aquifers
- Multiple screened intervals common
- Artesian pressures possible
- Quality varies (iron, arsenic in some areas)
Cascade Foothills / East Slope
- Mountainous terrain, bedrock common
- Fractured rock (metamorphic/volcanic)
- Many wells >300 ft (basalt or granite)
- Artesian flows in confined fractures
- Yields vary widely
- Winter snow limits high-elevation work
Olympic Peninsula
- Similar glacial geology to Puget Lowland
- Heavy rainfall, high water tables
- Risk of perched flow
- Shallow casing common
- Possible artesian heads from confined layers
Arsenic Zones
Some Washington groundwater regions have naturally elevated arsenic (Central Puget Sound, parts of SE WA, Yakima Valley, Whidbey Island). Set adequate casing through arsenic-bearing strata and inform well owners of testing/treatment needs.
📞 Resources & Contacts
Regulatory References
- WAC 173-160 – Minimum Standards for Construction and Maintenance of Wells
- WAC 173-162 – Well Construction Licensing and Continuing Education
- RCW 18.104 – Water Well Construction
- RCW 90.44 – Regulation of Public Groundwaters
Professional Associations
- Washington State Ground Water Association (WSGWA)
Phone: 360-757-1551
Email: info@wsgwa.org
Website: www.wsgwa.org
Training, advocacy, and networking for WA drillers
❓ Frequently Asked Questions
Start with a Trainee License ($75) requiring 600 hours supervised drilling, 6 CEUs, and passing the written exam. After gaining experience (3,600-5,400 hours depending on prior status), apply for the Water Well Operator License ($75) with 14-32 CEUs and pass exams.
14 hours every 2 years for license renewal. At least 2 hours must cover Washington well laws and regulations. Only Ecology-approved providers count. Submit certificates to wclo@ecy.wa.gov before renewal.
At least 72 hours before starting any well construction, reconstruction, or decommissioning. Submit via Ecology's online Well Construction & Licensing System. Fees range from $40-$300 depending on well type.
50 ft from septic systems and sewer lines, 100 ft from drainfields and contamination sources, 1,000 ft from solid-waste landfills, and 5 ft from buildings. Local jurisdictions may have stricter requirements.
Looking for Homeowner Information?
Check out our Washington well guide for homeowners covering costs, permits, and water quality.
Washington Homeowner Well Guide →