Read This Before Hiring Someone To Put in Your Well

You’re about to drill a hole hundreds of feet into the earth and trust it to provide clean water for decades.

Choose wrong, and you’re looking at contaminated water, a dry well, or a collapsed borehole that costs more to fix than starting over.

Here’s your survival checklist.

License Verification (Non-Negotiable)

Verify active TDLR Water Well Driller License at tdlr.texas.gov Unlicensed drilling happens constantly in rural Texas. You’ll pay $15,000+ to abandon an illegal well and start over.

Confirm separate pump installer license Drilling and pump installation require different credentials. Split contractors mean split accountability when something fails.

Obtain certificates of insurance: $1M liability, workers comp, drilling pollution coverage Get them directly from the carrier, not from the driller. Without proper coverage, you’re liable when their 40,000-pound rig damages property.

Before They Quote

Reviewed local well logs and aquifer data for my area Texas has 9 major aquifers with wildly different depths. The Edwards near San Antonio? Maybe 300 feet. The Ogallala in the Panhandle? 400-600 feet. Cost difference: $10,000+. They should reference Texas Water Development Board data.

Got depth estimates from neighboring wells within one mile Don’t accept “usually 200-300 feet around here.” A 100-foot miscalculation costs $2,000-$4,000 extra.

Confirmed estimated GPM based on geological data You need 6-12 GPM for household use. Promises of “plenty of water” without geological basis mean you’re gambling. Low-yield wells need expensive storage tanks—add $6,000-$10,000.

Things to Include in the Contract

Fixed depth pricing AND per-foot overages clearly stated Standard: quoted to specific depth, then $35-$75/foot beyond that. What’s your cap? Get it in writing.

Specific pump specs: brand, model, horsepower, warranty Grundfos and Franklin last 15-25 years. Generic pumps fail in 5. The pump is $2,500-$5,000 of your total cost—know what you’re buying.

Pressure tank size minimum 80 gallons Undersized tanks is a common shortcut that will make your pump cycle constantly, cutting it’s lifespan in half.

Well casing specs: 6-inch diameter minimum, material type (PVC vs. steel), depth Steel rusts in 20-30 years in Texas soils. PVC lasts 50+ but costs more. Casing must extend 12 inches above ground to prevent contamination.

Water testing included or specifically excluded Texas doesn’t require testing for private wells. You’re risking bacteria, nitrates, and arsenic exposure. Testing costs $150-$400—know if it’s included.

Legal Compliance

Verified groundwater conservation district permit requirements Over 90 GCDs operate in Texas with different rules. Drilling without required permits means fines up to $10,000 daily and you don’t legally own your water.

Confirmed setback distances: 50 feet from septic, 150 feet from sewage facilities Drill too close to your septic system, and you’re drinking treated sewage. Counties often exceed state minimums.

Confirmed 811 utility clearance documentation Texas law requires calling 811 before excavation. Hitting buried utilities can cost $50,000+ in repairs. Get proof they called and waited.

Hidden Cost Questions

Who pays if actual depth exceeds estimate? “We thought 300 feet but need 450” shouldn’t cost you an unbudgeted $5,000. Establish depth caps and shared risk upfront.

Who’s running electrical to the well location? Pumps need dedicated 220V circuits. Running power 500 feet from your house? That’s an additional expense not included in most quotes.

Is well development and testing included? Wells need 4-8 hours of pumping after drilling to clear sediment. Some contractors charge extra. Some rush it, leaving you with cloudy water and premature pump failure.

Trust Verification

Obtain recent references – Call them. Ask: “Did they hit quoted depth? Any surprise costs? Is water still flowing two years later?”

Get failure terms in writing – Dry holes happen. Who pays to properly abandon? Who pays to drill again?

Ask “What’s worst-case scenario on my property and total cost?” Professional drillers know local geology. An honest answer sounds like, “Worst case, 500 feet dry, relocate 200 feet east, total exposure $17,000.”

If someone tells you, “Don’t worry, we always hit water.”, that is your signal to keep looking.

The Reality

Texas has 7 million water wells. Roughly 5-8% fail to meet expectations within five years. That’s 350,000+ property owners who didn’t ask these questions.

You’re spending $8,000-$30,000 on a system that determines whether you can shower, water livestock, or sell your property. The cheap driller saves you $2,000 today and costs you $15,000 in three years.

In rural Texas, land without reliable water loses 40-60% of its market value.

Bookmark This. Check Every Box.

The driller who welcomes these questions does quality work. The one who says “trust us, we’ve been doing this for 30 years” is the one whose insurance company you’ll be calling.

Check these boxes now or hire a water attorney later.

Texas Land Services connects property owners with licensed, vetted well drilling professionals who answer every question. Because gambling on water in Texas is gambling on everything.