Well Construction & Drilling Overview
The Idaho Department of Water Resources (IDWR) has statutory authority for the state-wide administration of the rules governing well construction and the licensing of drillers in Idaho. Prior to drilling a well, the well owner or well driller must first obtain a drilling permit from IDWR. All wells must be constructed by a well driller with a valid license from IDWR.
Examples of permittable wells include all water wells, monitoring wells, low temperature geothermal wells, geothermal wells, injection wells, and other artificial openings and excavations in the ground, greater than 18 vertical feet below land surface. Domestic wells, monitoring wells, and cathodic-protection wells do not require other approvals by IDWR before a drilling permit can be approved. However, other wells such as irrigation wells, commercial/industrial wells, injection wells, multi-family or municipal wells require at least approved water rights before approvals are issued.
Well Construction & Drilling Research
Use this tool to find licensed well drillers by county, city, company, or region.
Search for wells in Idaho and view the related Well Driller’s Reports (Logs). The search results include well size and depth, geology, depth to water, water levels, flow rate, construction method, as well as scanned images of historical well documents, such as the Well Drillers Report (Log).
The database contains most of the Well Drillers Reports from July 1987 to current.
Tips for using the Well Construction Search
The search methods are listed in the order of effectiveness. Use only ONE of the methods listed:
- Input the Well Tag Number (for example: D0012345).
Beginning in 1997, IDWR began assigning a unique well tag number to each well. The well tag number consists of a “D” followed by 7 digits (for example: D0012345). You can find the well tag number on historical well documents or on the well itself. A well’s tag number is printed on a metal plate (approximately 2″ by 3″) that is welded or riveted to the portion of the metal well casing that sits above ground level. - Input the Township, Range, Section, Quarter-Quarter Section, and Quarter Section (for example: Township = 01N, Range = 01E, Section = 1, Quarter-Quarter Section = NE, Quarter-Section = NE).
To find this information, use the GPS Locator Tool for Well Drillers, contact your county assessor’s office, review your property purchase documents or deed, or contact your real estate company. - Input the Township, Range, and Section (for example: Township = 01N, Range = 01E, Section = 1).
To find this information, use the GPS Locator Tool for Well Drillers, contact your county assessor’s office, review your property purchase documents or deed, or contact your real estate company. - Input the physical address of the well.
- Input the last name of the person OR the organization who owned the well when it was drilled.
- Input the subdivision, construction date ranges, and/or drilling company.
Well Construction & Drilling Resources
- Water Rights as they Pertain to Well Drilling
- Well Construction Memo #9: Guidance regarding decommissioning of bore holes drilled for collecting soil or rock samples, determining geologic properties or mineral exploration – January 22, 2015
- Guidance for Department Staff for Processing of Waivers (Draft) – November 2013
- Waiver Guidance for Application of Waivers of the Minimum Standards – June 2013
Additional Information
Well Drillers Notification
(877) 287-6702
This toll-free number is for well drillers to notify IDWR 4 hours prior to beginning the placement of a well seal.
Well Construction Maps
Wells and Areas of Drilling Concern Map (Find a Well)
View well locations layered with areas of drilling concern in addition to nitrate priority areas, groundwater management areas, and more.
Geothermal Resources Map
View Idaho’s abundant geothermal resources both as naturally-occurring hot springs and wells.
Groundwater Level Data Map
Find maps, data, and graphs for Idaho’s groundwater levels as monitored by sentinel wells.
GPS Locator Tool for Well Drillers
Well drillers can use this mapping tool to input their coordinates from GPS and see their location on a digital ortho-photo quad with the quarter-quarter sections of the Public Land Survey. Use this information to complete the Well Driller’s Report.
Well Construction & Drilling Contacts
IDWR well construction & drilling team – for general questions regarding well construction and drilling
Well Drillers Notification
(877) 287-6702 – This toll-free number is for well drillers to notify IDWR 4 hours prior to beginning the placement of a well seal.
Do You Need a Well Inspector?
North: (208) 762-2800
West: (208) 334-2190
South: (208) 736-3033
East: (208) 525-7161
Evaluation of Minimum Well Seal Depth
Well Drilling & Driller Licensing Forms
Visit the Well Drilling & Driller Licensing Forms webpage to view and download forms.