Most forms may be filled out and submitted online (Using Internet Explorer only at this time); However, applications will not be fully processed until the appropriate application fee has been received. Each form you submit will generate an “Application Received” acknowledgement that will be sent to the email address you provide on the form.

The Applications for Groundwater Certificate Replacement and Acknowledgement of District Regulatory Requirements require special handling and must be downloaded, completed, and mailed to the District office.

When you submit an application to receive a permit to operate a water well, the application travels through five distinct steps. At each step, decisions are made or actions taken based on the information you put on the application form. For this reason, it is very important that you provide the best available information when you complete the form. Inaccurate or incomplete information can delay or prevent us from issuing you a permit.

The 5 Steps in the Permit Process

Step 1 Application with Fee

The permitting cycle begins when we receive your application and application fee.

Step 2 Public Hearing

Your application is then scheduled for a public hearing with the Hearing Examiner

Step 3 Board Action

After the hearing, your application is scheduled for action by the Districts’ Board of Directors at their next Board Meeting.

Step 4 Issue Permit Fee Statement

If the Board of Directors approves your application, we will issue a Permit Fee Statement based on the allocation and use

Step 5 Permit Fee Paid then Permit Issued

Once you have paid the Permit Fee, a Water Well Permit will be issued and you may begin to withdraw water.

If there are only 5 steps, why does the process sometimes seem to take so long?

An Example Based on a Renewal Application:

For a permit that expires in June, the renewal for its new permit term beginning on July 1, is mailed out the first week of March. (Nearly 4 months in advance.) June renewals/expirations are automatically scheduled for the April Hearing which is normally the first Thursday of each month. After the hearing, the June renewals/expirations are scheduled for the May Board Meeting which is the fourth Wednesday of each month. Renewal applications that have had their application fees paid and their forms properly filled out are brought before the May Board for approval.

Applications that have not been returned, have not paid their application fees, or have additional information that is needed are continued to the next board meeting. (June) At the June Board Meeting applications are acted upon that have met the above criteria. Those applicants that did not send in their renewal forms or did not pay their application fees, will have no action taken by the Board, and will let their permits expire effective the end of the month and will have to go through the hearing and board meeting process again, once they have submitted their application and fees.

For more Permitting FAQ’s visit the FAQ section of this site.

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Annual Report for Calendar Year

Submit this form for each well covered by a Water Well Permit. Where wells have been permitted for aggregate withdrawal, only one form per aggregation need be completed.

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Registering a Well

All wells have to be registered prior to drilling.
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Application for Renewal of Water Well Permit

Used to renew your permit for the next permit term. The District will automatically send you a renewal form approximately 4 months prior to the end of your current permit term.

NOTE: If you wish to submit the form online, you must fill it in using the information from the form the District send you.

Submit this form and fee within seven (7) days to the District address for each well.

The application fee is $50.00 ($200.00 for wells that have not been drilled).

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Permit Applications

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Application for New Well Permit

Use this form if the well has not been drilled.

(Includes form for emergency applications)

Submit this form for each well system. Send an application fee of $200.00 for each well to be permitted to the District address within seven (7) days. If this is an emergency application, you must also include the fee of $500.00 for each well.

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Emergency Application Only

Application for Emergency Permit – A new well application has previously been filed.

Submit this form for each aggregate well system. Send an application fee of $500.00 for Emergency applications for each well within seven (7) days to the District address.

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Original Application of an Existing Well

Use this form if the well has already been drilled, but has never been permitted.

Submit this form for each well.

Send an application fee of $200.00 for each well within seven (7) days.

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Previously Permitted

Use this form if the well was permitted sometime in the past but does not have a current permit term.

Submit this form for each well.

Send an application fee of $75.00 for each previously permitted well within seven (7) days.

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Amending a current permit

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Allocation Increase

If you require more water than the amount for which you initially applied. NOTE: You must submit the application before you exceed your permit allocation. If approved, it will be approved retroactively.

Submit one application form and fee within seven (7) days for each aggregate well system to be permitted. The application fee is $50.00 for one (1) well, or if you have more than 1 well, a total of $100.00 is due for the entire aggregate system.

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Permit Amendment Increasing Authorized Withdrawal: It is a violation of these rules to pump any amount of water over the amount authorized by permit. Permit amendments to increase the authorized withdrawal must be filed before any overpumpage occurs.

  1. Submission of Application: An application by a permit holder for a permit amendment increasing maximum authorized withdrawal must be submitted prior to the withdrawal of the amount currently permitted.
  2. Basis for Amendment: An applicant for a permit amendment increasing authorized withdrawal must present sufficient evidence that: (i) due to circumstances beyond the control of the applicant, the amount of withdrawal originally authorized is inadequate; and (ii) no suitable surface water is immediately available to the applicant.
  3. Action for Request: The General Manager may rule on any application for increased withdrawal in an amount up to but not exceeding twenty million gallons or 25 percent of the initially authorized withdrawal, whichever is greater, without notice, hearing, or further action by the Board. Once a ruling is made by the General Manager, notice of the ruling shall be served upon the applicant. Any applicant may appeal the General Manager’s ruling by filing a written request for hearing within ten business days of the date of service of the General Manager’s decision. If a written request for hearing is filed, or if the application for increased withdrawal is for an amount greater than twenty million gallons and 25 percent of the initially authorized withdrawal, notice shall be issued and a hearing conducted in the manner prescribed for permit issuance.
  4. Permit Fee: The permit fee to be assessed for any additional withdrawal granted will be at the permit fee rate in effect at the time of issuance of the amended permit multiplied by the additional withdrawal granted.
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Allocation Decrease

If you do not require the amount of water for which you initially applied. NOTE: This can only be used prior to payment of the Permit Fee. If the Permit Fee has already been paid, use the Rebate form at the end of the permit term.

Submit one application form and fee within seven (7) days for each aggregate well system to be permitted. The application fee is $50.00 for one (1) well, or if you have more than 1 well, a total of $100.00 is due for the entire aggregate system.

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Permit Amendment Decreasing Authorized Withdrawal:

An application by a permit holder for a permit amendment decreasing the authorized withdrawal must be made prior to payment, or to the due date for payment, of the current permit fee, whichever is earlier. The General Manager may grant such an amendment without notice, hearing, or further action by the Board.

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Application for Transfer of Ownership

Use this form if you no longer own the well in question.

Submit one application form and fee within seven (7) days for each aggregate well system to be permitted. The application fee is $25.00 for each well.

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Permit Amendment to Transfer Ownership of the Permit: An application to amend the permit to change the name of the permittee must be made within 90 calendar days of the change in ownership of the permitted well. The General Manager may grant such an amendment without notice, hearing, or further action by the Board.

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Application For Permit Fee Rebate

Use this to receive a rebate of your Permit Fee for an unused portion of your allocation after your permit term has ended. NOTE: Must be submitted within 90 days after the term expires.

  • Submit one application form and fee within seven (7) days for each aggregate well system. The application fee is $25.00 for one (1) well, or if you have more than 1 well, a total of $50.00 is due for the entire aggregate system. The form and fee must also be received within ninety (90) days after the termination date of the permit(s) to be considered for a rebate.
  • The District will not consider rebates of less than $100.00.
  • A water meter must be installed and operating for the entire withdrawal period in accordance with Section 8 of the Rules of the District if a rebate is requested.
  • If the well(s) is for public supply, the ratio of water sold or otherwise accounted for to the total water produced, must be at least 85% during the permit term.
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Application for Groundwater Credit Rebate

To be used after your permit term has expired, to receive the unused portion of your groundwater credits. NOTE: Must be submitted within 90 days after the term expires.

Submit one application form and fee within seven (7) days for each aggregate well system. The application fee is $25.00 for one (1) well, a total of $50.00 is due for the entire aggregate system. The form and fee must also be received within ninety (90) days after the termination date of the permit(s) to be considered for a rebate.

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Application for Over-Conversion Credit

To be used after your permit term has expired, for permittees in Regulatory Area 3 who exceed the Districts groundwater reduction requirements.

Submit one application form for each aggregate well system. The application fee is $25.00 for one (1) well, or if you have more than 1 well, a total of $50.00 is due for the entire aggregate system. The form must be received within ninety (90) days after the termination date of the permit(s) to be considered for a rebate. A water meter must be installed and operating on both the groundwater and alternative water supplies for the entire withdrawal period in accordance with the Rules of the District.

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Application for Disincentive Fee Rebate

  • Submit one application form and fee within seven (7) days for each aggregate well system. The application fee is $75.00 for each well. The form and fee must be received within ninety (90) calendar days after the termination date of the permit(s) to be considered for a rebate.
  • A water meter must be installed and operating for the entire withdrawal period in accordance with Section 8 of the Rules of the District if a rebate is requested.
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Other forms and reports you may need

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Well Radius Search Request Form

A customizable report that lists all permitted water wells within the jurisdictional boundary of the District in a specific radius. The area listed is a circle set to a specific distance around a latitude/longitude point that you provide in the application. The Well Radius Report is available as a standard report showing the previous years reported pumpage and key individual well details.
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Affidavit of Meter Calibration Test

Affidavit of Meter Calibration Test is required as follows:

  • Meter Diameter is less than 6 inches – Every 3 years
  • Meter Diameter is 6 inches or greater – Every year
  • PD (Positive Displacement) Type meters, all sizes – As required.

Log in for Meter Testing Companies Only

Meter Calibration

This is a list of companies in the Houston Texas area that perform meter calibrations, make adjustments as necessary using approved methods, and have submitted compliance information to the District. Companies are listed in alphabetical order. Only companies listed below may be used to submit meter calibrations to the District.

Meter Calibration Companies that use Approved Testing Methods

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Meter Card Report

Used for reporting meter readings as required by the District (Rule 8.7).

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Mail in forms

Application for Groundwater Certificate Replacement

Application for Groundwater Certificate Replacement

For replacement of a lost Groundwater Certificate (this form must be signed and notarized).

This form requires special handling and must be downloaded and/or printed before being mailed to the District. (DO NOT EMAIL THESE FORMS)

Acknowledgment of District Regulatory Requirements

Acknowledgment of District Regulatory Requirements

This form must be signed and MAILED or hand carried to the District. Faxed or emailed forms will not be accepted

This form requires special handling and must be downloaded and/or printed before being mailed to the District. (DO NOT EMAIL THESE FORMS)