Water drilling regulations vary by State. It is important that you are familiar with the drilling regulations for your local area. Failure to follow these regulations can result in hefty fines and penalties. Not knowing your local regulations prior to drilling will not be taken into account if you are being penalized.
Nebraska contains the largest aquifer in the United States. The Ogallala Aquifer, also known as the High Plains Aquifer, covers almost all of the underground surface of Nebraska, as well as portions of another seven states. This well-used aquifer provides ground water to over 80 percent of the population living in the High Plains area. Drilling regulations for this aquifer must be adhered too, to both monitor and preserve the use of this valuable resource.
If you drill for water in the State of Nebraska, you are required to register your well. Registration information includes, but is not limited to, well depth, well location and ground sediment. Well contractors are responsible for registering any ground water wells that they dig. Private property well owners are responsible for registering any wells dug on their land prior to 1993 that had not been registered. Wells must be dug at least 600 feet away from any well owned by another private owner. Wells must be at least 1,000 feet away from commercial or industrial wells or public water supply.
The Nebraska Department of Natural Resources keeps an updated database of wells. The database is available for public use. If you need information on your well, this is a great place to start. Any changes to wells, including change of ownership, once registered, must be updated with the Department of Natural Resources by writing. The fees collected from well registration go towards a cost sharing program for decommissioning ground water wells.
In addition to drilling regulations, there are requirements for the well itself. The Well Water Standards program provides onsite well inspections for compliance with drilled water wells. There is a strict standard of materials and drilling processes that must be followed for both the safety of the contractors and the land owners, as well as the protection of the surrounding environment. Well material requirements must be known and followed in order for compliance to be achieved.
Keeping informed of the drilling and well requirements can be a full time job. Knowing where to drill, how to drill and what papers to file can be a daunting process before the drilling even commences. This is a job best left to those that do it for a living. At American Water Surveyors, we specialize in locating underground water and showing the best areas to drill. Before you drill, contact us for our specialized water finding services. We can help make this daunting task a simple and easy process.
