Water Wells
Groundwater Districts and Well Rules in Concho County
Parts of Concho County have groundwater districts that set rules for wells and pumping. Check which district covers your land before you drill.
A groundwater conservation district is a local board. It issues permits for new wells. It can also limit how much water you pump. In Concho County, more than one district may cover your land, depending on where it sits.
The Hickory Underground Water Conservation District No. 1 covers parts of Concho County. It also covers parts of Mason, McCulloch, San Saba, Menard, and Kimble counties. Its office is in Brady. The Lipan-Kickapoo Water District is also active in Concho County. If a district covers your land, you usually need a permit before you drill. You must also follow the district's pumping rules.
Some land in Concho County is not in any district. There, Texas uses the 'rule of capture.' That means you can pump water under your own land without a local permit. But your neighbors can do the same. No local board steps in if the shared aquifer runs low.
Before you buy rural land or plan a well, find out which district — if any — covers that tract. Contact the Hickory UWCD or check the Texas Water Development Board's groundwater district map. Look at the district rules before you drill.
Source to confirm: Hickory Underground Water Conservation District — About