Drilling a Water Well Requires a Permit Here

The High Plains Underground Water Conservation District No. 1 covers parts of Crosby County. If you plan to drill a water well that can produce 17.5 gallons per minute or more, you must get a permit before drilling starts. The permit fee is $250 and is non-refundable. Drilling without a permit is not legal.

The district also enforces spacing rules. For wells drawing from the Ogallala aquifer — the main water source under the High Plains — a well producing up to 70 gallons per minute must be at least 100 yards from any other valid well and 25 yards from property lines. These rules exist because the Ogallala is a finite resource and water levels have been declining for decades. Contact the district at permit@hpwd.org or 806-762-0181 before you buy or build if you plan to rely on well water.