Educate me about water wells and water tables

[perro_peluo]

Originally Posted by RCH99

The OP asked the question in 2015...

Yep, did you learn anything??

[astrohip]

And I'm still here! Always interesting to hear new info, and get educated about a subject I know little about.

The thread bump is what has my curiosity piqued. I know most areas the OP asked about (Woodlands, Conroe) prohibit private water wells. Don't know about the unincorporated areas?

[HookTheBrotherUp]

No matter the age of the thread, but it is still always funny to have someone post when it may be obvious that they did not check the date... but I agree with @perro_peluo in that old threads are good to learn by.

Having said that, who says you cannot drill a water well in COH? You most certainly can, you just have to get it permitted, and it is not cheap. But not too many reasons why you would need one in the COH, unless you plan to open a big public swimming pool, or car wash, or have a very large property that you need irrigated. I recall a car wash recently getting a permit near Montrose. In general, Texas allows the property owner to use the water under his/her land, but it belongs to the state, and they can deny permits based on conservation, etc. No reason for a homeowner to drill though.

Check out this video... https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uOhwebOEF2E. I've seen other videos where you can use compressed air to operate a small drill that you can order online, and use your water hose to remove the material. Interesting stuff that you can find on Youtube.

And slightly related to this thread... I had to relocate a huge post for an automatic gate at my house, and I had to dig down to four feet, and even at that level, I had to contend with water! I think because of all the water we got since Harvey, but still, it forms a well quickly.

[astrohip]

Originally Posted by HookTheBrotherUp

Having said that, who says you cannot drill a water well in COH? You most certainly can, you just have to get it permitted, and it is not cheap. But not too many reasons why you would need one in the COH, unless you plan to open a big public swimming pool, or car wash, or have a very large property that you need irrigated. I recall a car wash recently getting a permit near Montrose. In general, Texas allows the property owner to use the water under his/her land, but it belongs to the state, and they can deny permits based on conservation, etc. No reason for a homeowner to drill though.

Are you certain about that? I don't know the law, so I can't state with any certainty, but I was under the impression that ground subsidence had led to the prohibition on (new) water wells in the COH. I have a friend who has an old grandfathered well for pool/irrigation, but the city told him once it dies... no more.

[marksmu]

Originally Posted by astrohip

Are you certain about that? I don't know the law, so I can't state with any certainty, but I was under the impression that ground subsidence had led to the prohibition on (new) water wells in the COH. I have a friend who has an old grandfathered well for pool/irrigation, but the city told him once it dies... no more.

Its not listed anywhere, but I believe the rule at the subsidence district is that if you are served by city water then you can not drill a well.....However, they do allow wells to be drilled (I believe) on properties larger than 10 acres, or if the water will be used for an agricultural purpose.

Even when they do allow you to drill, I know they charge you for the water. We recently (last 10 years) drilled a well in Brazoria county, on a 50 acre piece served by city water. We were allowed to do it for agricultural purposes only, which does include irrigation. We were not permitted to attach it to the building. We have to pay a fee for the well annually, and it has meter that we have to read and pay for the water extracted.

[astrohip]

Originally Posted by marksmu

Its not listed anywhere, but I believe the rule at the subsidence district is that if you are served by city water then you can not drill a well.....However, they do allow wells to be drilled (I believe) on properties larger than 10 acres, or if the water will be used for an agricultural purpose.

Even when they do allow you to drill, I know they charge you for the water. We recently (last 10 years) drilled a well in Brazoria county, on a 50 acre piece served by city water. We were allowed to do it for agricultural purposes only, which does include irrigation. We were not permitted to attach it to the building. We have to pay a fee for the well annually, and it has meter that we have to read and pay for the water extracted.

Thanks, good info.