Water / Groundwater
Drilling a well in Baylor County? You are tapping the Seymour Aquifer
The Seymour Aquifer is the main freshwater source under Baylor County. The Rolling Plains Groundwater Conservation District oversees well permits and water use in the county.
If you buy rural land in Baylor County and plan to dig a water well, you will draw from the Seymour Aquifer. An aquifer is an underground layer of rock and sediment that holds water. The Seymour Aquifer sits in gravel, sand, and silty clay. Well yields vary widely across the aquifer and have declined over time due to heavy pumping. It is the main source of fresh groundwater for Baylor, Haskell, and Knox counties combined.
About 90 percent of the water pumped from the Seymour Aquifer goes to irrigation. That heavy farm use means the aquifer can be uneven — the amount of water-saturated material varies across the county. Water quality is generally fresh to slightly saline. Some areas have higher nitrate levels from farm runoff, so testing your well water is important.
The Rolling Plains Groundwater Conservation District (RPGCD) covers Baylor County. It requires permits before you drill a new well or test hole. The district sets rules on well spacing and how much water you can pump. Before drilling, contact the RPGCD at their Seymour office (110 W California Street) or check their rules online. The Texas Water Development Board also keeps groundwater data and aquifer maps you can look at before buying land.
Source to confirm: Texas Water Development Board — Seymour Aquifer