Castro County leads in administratively completed well permits in July

High Plains Water District (HPWD) received 37 administratively complete applications for water well permits during July 2022, with Castro County leading the way.

Castro County had seven completed applications for water well permits, followed by Lynn and Lubbock counties, each with six completed applications. Cochran County came in with four; Floyd and Hale with three each; Bailey and Swisher, two each; with Lamb and Parmer, with one each.

All permits completed during July were for the Ogallala Aquifer.

Approximately 1,123 water well permit applications have been processed since the beginning of the fiscal year (October 2021.) This is 234 more applications than during the same period in 2021.

Landowners are required to apply for a permit prior to drilling and production of water of any well expected to produce 17.5 gallons of water per minute or more.

In order for the HPWD board to consider an application for a water well permit, the applicant must submit the landowner's name, address, and telephone number, the applicant's name address and phone number, and the legal description of the property including the aquifer into which the well will be drilled.

After receiving the application, a field technician will meet the applicant or applicant's designee at the proposed well site at the scheduled time. The applicant will need to provide the following during the visit with the field technician and identify the proposed well site, property lines and remit a $250 fee to HPWD.

Before a permit application can be declared administratively complete, the applicant must sign the permit application at the site visit or at the district office in Lubbock, indicating the landowner will drill the well at the proposed site and agrees to all the district’s rule and will install, equip, operate, maintain or close the well in compliance with the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulations.

The application will be declared administratively complete and considered valid when the permanent well pump has been installed and the registration and log of well filed with the district within 8 months of the original application date.

District personnel will finalize the permit application and submit it to the general manager for his consideration for recommendation to the board.