Residential Wells

The domestic water well program of Placer County is involved with the application and installation of all private and public water wells in the County.  This program derives its regulatory authority from the Placer County Water Well Construction Ordinance.  The purpose of this ordinance is to protect the health, safety and general welfare of the people of Placer County by ensuring that the ground waters of this County will not be polluted or contaminated.

Hand Dug Water Well Policy - Historically, many properties in Placer County utilized hand dug wells. A hand dug well is not considered a source for potable water supply and can facilitate the impairment of ground water quality regardless of the purpose or use of the well.

This program covers all the wells that are drilled in Placer Countyand also wells that are drilled in the Town of Loomis and City of Rocklin.  Wells that are drilled in the cities of Roseville and Lincoln are under the permitting requirements of those individual cities.

In order to drill a well in Placer County, it must be applied for by a licensed Well Driller.

Your well driller will have definite opinions about where water can be found on your property. Within these limits, you should pick the most sanitary well location possible to insure that your well doesn't become contaminated over the long haul. Your Well Driller must ensure that common Set-backs requirements are met. (see below).

Upon applying to Placer County Environmental Health for a well permit, the Driller shall provide :

• A vicinity map and clear directions to the property and well site
• Plans and specifications for the proposed work, including method of sealing the annular space
• (2) copies of an accurate site plan, drawn to scale.  Show the proposed well location and all features of potential contamination such as septic system, sewer line, animal feed lots or pasture, and property lines within 150 feet of proposed well site.  Wells are required to be in compliance with set-backs, from potiential ground water hazards, and must also be shown on the site plan.

  Common Set-backs (Well-to-Septic)

•  A copy of the Assessor's plot map/parcel map
•  Location of any restrictions such as easements on the property
•  Any other information that enforcement agency finds necessary to complete the permit application
•  Submission of the appropriate permit filing fee.

Related Links

The United States Environmental Protection Agency (US E.P.A), also has some good information.
 

California Department of Water Resources (DWR) - Well Completion Reports; If you are the owner of a private water well you may request a copy of the well completion report, that was filed with DWR by the well driller.  The California Water Code, Section 13752 prohibits distributing well completion reports to anyone but the current land owner, his/her legal designee, or a government agency, without the owner's permission.

DWR Groundwater Publications ; Information on well standards, regional issues, waterfact sheets, and legislative reports.