Water well permits in the Hays Trinity Groundwater Conservation District
Drilling a well in western Hays County, around Dripping Springs, Wimberley, or Driftwood? Here is how registration works, and how we handle it.
Western Hays County, including Dripping Springs, Wimberley, and Driftwood, is covered by the Hays Trinity Groundwater Conservation District (HTGCD). They manage the Trinity Aquifer that this fast-growing part of the Hill Country depends on. The eastern, Edwards-aquifer side of the county falls under a different district, the Barton Springs-Edwards Aquifer Conservation District.
The district's rule is clear: all new wells, exempt and non-exempt, must be registered before drilling. For a normal household well that is a registration through the district's Well Construction Notification, not a full operating permit, and we file it for you before the rig arrives.
What you need to know
- Register before you drill. Every new well, including an exempt household well, must be registered with the district before drilling, through a Well Construction Notification.
- Household wells are exempt from permitting. A single-household domestic well that cannot produce more than 25,000 gallons a day is exempt from an operating permit, but still must be registered.
- Mind the setbacks. A new well must sit at least 50 feet from your property line, 50 feet from a septic tank, 100 feet from a drain field, and 150 feet from contamination sources.
- Drought rules can apply. The district uses a four-stage drought framework (Conservation, Alarm, Critical, Emergency) tied to the Pedernales and Blanco Rivers, and does not accept new operating-permit applications during the Critical and Emergency stages.
- Your driller files the state report. You file the registration before drilling; as your licensed driller, we file the State of Texas well report with the district within 60 days of finishing the well.
See all Hill Country districts · Permit or just registration? · Wells in Dripping Springs
Fast facts
- District: Hays Trinity GCD
- Covers: Western Hays County (Trinity)
- New well: Register before drilling
- Exempt well: Under 25,000 gal/day
District office: (512) 858-9253
We handle the paperworkCall (830) 816-3232We file your district paperwork for you
Registering a well with the Hays Trinity Groundwater Conservation District before drilling is part of how we do every job in Hays County. You drill once and you drill it right, on the record, the way the rules require.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need to register my well in Hays County?
In western Hays County, the Hays Trinity Groundwater Conservation District requires all new wells, including exempt household wells, to be registered before drilling, through a Well Construction Notification. A normal domestic well is exempt from an operating permit but still must be registered. We handle the filing for you. The eastern, Edwards side of the county is under a different district.
How far does my well have to be from the property line and septic?
The Hays Trinity district publishes these setbacks for a new well: at least 50 feet from the property line, 50 feet from a septic tank, 100 feet from a drain field, and 150 feet from contamination sources. We site your well to meet them.
Can drought rules stop me from drilling?
The Hays Trinity district uses a four-stage drought framework and does not accept new operating-permit applications during the Critical and Emergency stages. It is worth checking the current drought stage on the district's site before you plan, and we help you time it.
Does the Hays Trinity district charge a fee to register a well?
Yes, a fee applies for a new well registration, though agricultural-only wells with a Texas Agriculture and Timber registration can be exempt from it. The district sets the current amount, so we confirm it when we file your paperwork.
Drilling a well in Hays County?
We know the HTGCD rules and we handle the registration. Reach out for a free, no-pressure quote.