Texas Porch

Water Supply

Private Water Wells Are Common in Rural Erath County

Many rural properties in Erath County rely on private water wells. State records can help you research a well before you buy.

Erath County Home & Property

Outside city limits in Erath County, many homes and ranches get their water from private wells. There is often no public water system available.

Before you buy rural land, it is worth checking whether a well exists, how deep it is, and what the water test results show.

The Texas Water Development Board keeps records on wells drilled across the state. TCEQ — the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality — has a Water Well Report Viewer. It is an online map with over 800,000 historical well logs. You can use it to look up wells in Erath County.

TCEQ also sets rules for how wells must be drilled and kept up. If you plan to drill a new well, you must hire a licensed driller and follow state standards.

Septic systems go hand in hand with well water on rural land. Contact TCEQ or the county for guidance on septic rules, which are called OSSF rules in Texas.

Source to confirm: TCEQ — Water Well Report Viewer

More Erath County notes

Property Tax Basics

Two Offices Handle Property Tax in Erath County

The appraisal district sets your property value, but a separate tax office actually bills and collects what you owe.

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Homestead Exemption

Homestead Exemption Can Lower Your School Tax Bill

If your Erath County home is your main residence, you can apply for a homestead exemption that cuts your taxable school district value.

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Agricultural Valuation

Farm and Ranch Land Can Qualify for Ag Valuation

Farm and ranch land in Erath County can be taxed on what it produces, not what it would sell for. That often means a much lower tax bill.

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Vehicle Registration

No Emissions Test Required to Register Your Car Here

Erath County is not in the Texas emissions-testing zone. You do not need a smog check to register your car here.

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