Wells 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
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
Driller Licensing
IDWR authorizes the licensing of drillers and operators of well drilling equipment to protect the groundwater resources against waste and contamination.
Injection Wells
Injection wells are used as a means to dispose of or store fluids in the subsurface and are monitored by IDWR’s Underground Injection Control Program.
Geothermal Wells
Find information about wells with a bottom hole temperature of 212+ degrees Fahrenheit or the specifications for Low Temperature Geothermal Wells.
Well Drillers Notification
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 to find a well?
Use the Find a Well link to access our well map. For each well, you will find 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).