THE PROCESS

Required Permits
A new well. To get a well drilled you will need a water well permit from the State of Wyoming Engineer's Office Ground Water Division. Plains Water Well Service can get this for you. It is important to get this as soon as possible because there may be backlog of requests, and this could delay the drilling of your well.

Replace an existing well. You will need a relocate and deepen permit. Plains Water Well Service can get this for you. This is usually a faster process than applying for a new well. Again if there is a backlog it can delay the drilling of your well.

Abandoning a well. Paperwork on this is submitted upon completion. Plains Water Well Service will do this for you.

Registering an existing well. Filing the paperwork on completion of the well, registering an existing well or abandoning a well. Plains Water Well Service will do this for you.

Selecting a Drilling Contractor or Pump Installation/Service.
Make sure your driller is certified by the NGWA (National Ground Water Association) and in Wyoming that they are certified water well contractor by the Wyoming State Engineer's Office. Ask for referrals, especially in your area.

Getting Bids
This can be tricky; make sure that you are comparing apples to apples because everyone bids a little differently.

At first glance one bid may seem a lot less, however some costs can be hidden. When they say drilling per foot, does that include casing? If not the casing costs can be a big surprise. Be sure to ask for a full explanation of the bid/costs.

Compare the quality of the materials.

On Site Evaluation
Have someone come out to look at the area you want drilled. There are many concerns that need to be reviewed.

Is there space to get the equipment in? Are there overhead power lines? Are there trees or fencing in the way? Where is your septic system?

Have the Driller Review Your Permit
There are times when the State of Wyoming Engineer's Office Ground Water Division may put certain conditions or restrictions on the permit. Best to know about them before you invest your money. Your driller will also check to see if your permit has expired and help with that if it has.

Call Before You Dig
Drilling and excavating are part of the construction of your well, so be sure to contact the necessary public service companies to make sure it is safe. In Wyoming, contact Wyoming One-Call at 800-849-2476 or visit the Wyoming Call Before You Dig website. In Colorado, visit the Utility Notification Center for Colorado (Call Before You Dig) web site for more information.

Upon Completion
Your driller and pump installer need to submit completed paperwork to the State Ground Water Department, including a completed well drilling log and GPS coordinates. Failure to complete paperwork could result in the loss of your water rights.

Please visit the Links page for additional resources on consumer information on water well basics, selecting a contractor, and national and state requirements.