Water Smarts 2002

• Year: 2002
• Title: Water Smarts
• Author: Upper Arkansas Area COG USGS Pueblo Office
• Description: A well and septic system owner's guide to ground water in the upper arkansas area chaffee, custer, fremont, and lake counties, Colorado
• Publications - Doc Type: Other

Typical Well Permit
In Colorado, the Division of Water Resources of the Office of the
State Engineer retains well records. The Division issues permits
after looking at the overall water supply in the basin, estimating Well Drilling Tips
well spacing and how much water is available.
�e
The Well Permit Number is
of water Resources to
installers report, and the well permit. The well drillers log
-wjm
important because it allows easy
At times confusing, this
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_
"�"'°dW p , U0
`'�' . um 30 wa �s
access to permit information
through the Colorado Division of
represents the name
...��
..�•�:�
and pump installer.
Water Resources' database. All
and address of the
water uses. There may not be a well permit for early wells; for
.,,
Colorado well permits are filed by
person applying for a
before May 8, 1972.
�„ °'"
permit number.
permit. It does not
Because mountain ground water volumes are highly variable,
.aor
some residents have installed a storage tank on their property to
always match the
supplement their well.
roe information does
The pro rtY
address of the property
the conditions of approval on a well permit. The local water
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not change over time.
where the well is to be7°
usage. Again, the limitations on use of well water are not the
bp,ws ffw.* � Nor caicr� �w�*R 'rt
same for all wells. If someone thinks that a well is being used
located.
illegally, they should contact the water commissioner, who can
CONOMON8 OF APPROVAL
then do the necessary research to determine how the well in
When you purchase
'
w
The Conditions of Approval
property with an
' ,
spell out the specific water uses
existing well, the
;
allowed by the permit. The
Division of Water
conditions vary from permit to
Resources requires
s
permit regardless
that you notify them in
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of the well type. This is evident
order to record
.ra+wEO
••
�^� -"W' °` -
at times, when comparing two
permits of the same type issued
ownership changes.
rte.
_ _ ,
- - -- —
s�o'.• -� Ta+�.� ��
many Pears aaart.
In Colorado, the Division of Water Resources of the Office of the
State Engineer retains well records. The Division issues permits
after looking at the overall water supply in the basin, estimating Well Drilling Tips
well spacing and how much water is available.
• Contact the Colorado Division
A well record usually includes the well driller's log, the pump
of water Resources to
installers report, and the well permit. The well drillers log
obtain a well permit.
provides well construction details such as the type of rock
• Consult guidelines in your
county's planning and
encountered, the depth to water, and a rough estimate of the
environmental health offices.
amount of water the well produces. The pump installer's report
• Employ a licensed well driller
describes the depth to the pump, the type of pump, and the
and pump installer.
horsepower. The well permit contains information on the allowed
• Locate your well at 'least 200
water uses. There may not be a well permit for early wells; for
feet from any septic system
and away from corrals,
example, Colorado did not require permits for wells constructed
pastures, drainage ways or
before May 8, 1972.
other potential sources of
A well permit is not a guarantee that a well will find water.
contamination.
Because mountain ground water volumes are highly variable,
Do not site wells in an
enclosed pasture or a corral.
some residents have installed a storage tank on their property to
supplement their well.
The Division of Water Resources is also responsible for enforcing
the conditions of approval on a well permit. The local water
commissioner is the point of contact for complaints about well
usage. Again, the limitations on use of well water are not the
same for all wells. If someone thinks that a well is being used
illegally, they should contact the water commissioner, who can
then do the necessary research to determine how the well in
question can be used legally.
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