Water well permits in the Real-Edwards Conservation and Reclamation District
Drilling a well in Real or Edwards County, around Leakey, Rocksprings, or Camp Wood? Here is how registration works, and how we handle it.
Real and Edwards counties, including Leakey, Rocksprings, and Camp Wood, are covered by the Real-Edwards Conservation and Reclamation District (RECRD). They register wells and manage the Edwards and Trinity aquifers across this rugged stretch of the southwestern Hill Country.
Every new well has to be registered with the district first. District staff then decide whether your well is exempt or needs an operating permit. For a normal domestic well on acreage, that is a registration, and we file it before the rig arrives.
What you need to know
- Register every well first. All new wells must be registered with the district before drilling. Staff then determine whether the well is exempt or needs an operating permit.
- Exempt wells need over 10 acres. A domestic or livestock well on a tract larger than 10 acres that cannot produce more than 25,000 gallons a day is exempt from an operating permit, but still must be registered.
- Small lots can still qualify. On 10 acres or less, special exclusions may apply, such as one well per lot, under 25,000 gallons a day, serving five or fewer households, though wells in alluvial aquifers are capped at 10 gallons per minute.
- Registration is $100; a permit costs more. The filing fee to register a new well is $100. A full operating permit, only needed for non-exempt wells, is $250 plus a $500 refundable deposit.
- Mind the spacing. Keep the well at least 50 feet from property lines, 100 feet from any existing well, 50 feet from septic tanks, and 150 feet from livestock yards and other pollution sources.
See all Hill Country districts · Permit or just registration? · Wells in Leakey
Fast facts
- District: Real-Edwards C&RD
- Covers: Real and Edwards counties
- New well: Register before drilling ($100)
- Exempt well: Over 10 acres, under 25,000 gal/day
- Drought (June 2026): In Stage 4 (Extreme); voluntary for home wells, mandatory cuts for permitted ones.
District office: (830) 232-5733
We handle the paperworkCall (830) 816-3232We file your district paperwork for you
Registering a well with the Real-Edwards Conservation and Reclamation District before drilling is part of how we do every job in Real 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 a well in Real or Edwards County?
Yes. The Real-Edwards Conservation and Reclamation District requires every new well to be registered before drilling. Staff then decide whether your well is exempt or needs an operating permit. A domestic well on more than 10 acres is generally exempt but still registered. We handle the filing.
What does it cost to register a well with Real-Edwards?
The filing fee to register a new well is $100. A full operating permit, needed only for non-exempt wells, is $250 plus a $500 refundable deposit. We confirm the current amounts when we file.
Do drought rules limit my domestic well?
The district uses a four-stage drought plan tied to the Palmer Drought Severity Index. Exempt domestic wells face voluntary conservation rather than mandatory cuts; the 10, 20, and 30 percent reductions apply to permitted, non-exempt wells. Check the current stage on the district's site.
Drilling a well in Real County?
We know the RECRD rules and we handle the registration. Reach out for a free, no-pressure quote.