Yes. Before drilling a new well, contact the District to determine what process applies.

Most wells fall into one of two general categories:

• Exempt wells, which still require District registration and a Certificate to Proceed with Drilling before drilling begins.
• Non-exempt wells, which require a District drilling permit and an operating permit before groundwater is produced or pumped.

Under District Rules, domestic use generally means water used by a person or household for daily household needs. This may include drinking, washing, cooking, residential landscape watering, a family garden or orchard, domestic animals, and similar household uses. These are considered "exempt" wells.

Domestic activity does not include water used for a business, commercial activity, public water system, or activity where a product is sold or payment is received.

See District Rule 1.1.

An exempt well is a well that is not required to have an operating permit or historic use permit to withdraw groundwater.

The most common exempt well is a domestic or livestock well that is:

• Used by a person or household for domestic activity and/or watering livestock;
• Equipped so it is incapable of producing more than 25,000 gallons per day, or about 17.36 gallons per minute; and
• Meets the District’s applicable requirements, including minimum water-rights requirements for new exempt wells.

State law also requires groundwater districts to exempt certain domestic and livestock wells under Texas Water Code § 36.117. District Rule 7.10 provides the District’s local exempt-well categories and requirements.

No. “Exempt” does not mean “no District process.” Exempt well owners are still required to register their wells, update well ownership information with the District when the property sells, and are responsible for giving the Certificate to Proceed with Drilling to the driller before work begins.

A new exempt well must:

1. Be registered with the District,
2. Receive a Certificate to Proceed with Drilling before drilling begins; and
3. Be reviewed by District staff upon well completion to ensure compliance with standards.

See District Rules 7.10, 7.13, and 12.1.

This information may be found on the well log for your well, which by law must be given to the owner of the well and filed with the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation and also with the District. In most cases the District can provide the most accurate information concerning this question.

Any well located within the counties of Milam and Burleson is within the District.

No, but it would be advantageous to inform the District of the change in ownership so that the District’s records are current. This will insure that appropriate notices intended for well owners reach you, the owner.

A Certificate to Proceed with Drilling is the District’s written authorization for an exempt well to move forward with drilling.

It is not the same as an operating permit. It confirms that the District has reviewed the proposed exempt well and that the owner may proceed with drilling at the approved location, subject to District Rules.

See District Rule 12.1.

Registration - A District record of the well and its basic information. Exempt wells must be registered.

Certificate to Proceed with Drilling - Required before drilling a new exempt well.

Drilling permit - Required before drilling, re-drilling, or replacing a non-exempt well.

Operating permit - Required before producing groundwater from a non-exempt well. The operating permit sets the authorized production amount, use, rate, and conditions.

See District Rules 7.1, 7.11, 7.12, 7.13, and 7.15.