WELL PERMITS

To get a well permit, simply complete the Well Permit Application and return to our office with the appropriate fee. After the application and fee is submitted to Environmental Health, an Environmental Health Specialist will visit your property and determine the best location for a new well to be drilled.  Many factors are evaluated in determining a well site.  Factors include the following:

  • Distance to potential sources of contamination, such as septic systems, creeks or streams, ponds or lakes, petroleum fuel underground storage tanks, landfills, etc.
  • Topography and landscape position, such as gullies, low-lying areas subject to flooding, areas in close proximity to overhead power lines, etc.
  • Available space

Once a well site is determined, the Environmental Health Specialist will issue a well construction permit.  Please be aware that in some cases a well may not be able to be permitted.  Sometimes additional paperwork (i.e., variance) may be necessary from another government agency (e.g., Division of Water Quality, Division of Environmental Health).  A well construction permit is valid for a period of five years.

After receiving a well construction permit, you must hire a North Carolina Certified Well Contractor to drill the well.  This Well Contractor must also be registered in Alamance County.  The Well Contractor will need a copy of your well construction permit prior to drilling the well.

WATER SAMPLES

If you want a water sample collected from your well, simply complete the Water Sample Application and return it to our office with the appropriate fee.  After submitting your application and fee, an Environmental Health Specialist will visit your property and collect the water samples for which you applied.  These samples are then shipped to a N.C. Certified Laboratory for analysis.  The time it takes to get the results back from the lab varies depending on the sample.