Indiana private well rules
Indiana Code 25-39 requires every water well driller and water well pump installer in Indiana to be licensed through the Department of Natural Resources (DNR).
Who licenses well work in Indiana
The state rule 312 IAC 13 covers drilling, casing and grouting new wells, plugging old wells, and standards for pump installation.
The Indiana Department of Health says private well water is not regulated by IDEM or the EPA, so well owners are responsible for the safety of their own water.
A driller must keep a record of each well and send it to the DNR Division of Water within 30 days of finishing the well. Ask your driller for a copy.
Sources: Licensing law; Private well water is unregulated; Well records filed with the state
Who may work on a well pump
Indiana law requires a DNR license for anyone who installs or repairs water well pumping equipment.
A person may not work as a water well driller or pump installer in Indiana without a license issued by the DNR Division of Water.
The Indiana well drilling statute and rules do not regulate the pipes and electrical connections between the well and the house, or equipment such as a pressure tank inside the house.
Under 312 IAC 13, a submersible pump must be set deep enough to allow 25 feet of drawdown in a well in unconsolidated deposits and 50 feet in a bedrock well.
Does the state require well testing?
The Indiana Department of Health recommends testing a private well at least once a year.
The state lab says well water should be tested every year for bacteria and nitrate.
At least every 5 years, or after major maintenance, the state lab says to also test for fluoride, arsenic, lead and copper.
When a private well shows elevated contamination, the person using that water is responsible for taking action.
Sources: Annual testing recommended; Yearly tests
Getting your water tested in Indiana
The IDOH Laboratory charges private well users $10.00 each for bacteria, nitrate and fluoride tests, and $20.00 for arsenic, lead and copper. Shipping is extra.
Anyone can send a drinking water sample to the IDOH Laboratory for sodium, nitrate or bacteria testing. The lab sends a sterile bottle once the fee is paid.
IDOH certifies the drinking water laboratories in Indiana, so a certified lab near you is another option for testing.
Sources: IDOH lab prices for well owners; Anyone can send a sample; Certified private labs
Disinfecting a well
If the well casing is under flood water, do not use the water. Disinfect the well only after the flood water goes down.
IDOH directions call for one quart of 5 percent chlorine bleach for each 100 feet of depth in a 4 inch drilled well.
After chlorinating, leave the well and plumbing unused for 12 to 24 hours, then flush until the chlorine smell is gone.
After disinfection, have the water tested for bacteria before using it, and do not drink it untreated until a lab report says it is safe.
Source: Do not use a flooded well
Plugging an unused well
In Indiana a well is considered abandoned if it has not been used for its original purpose for more than five years, or if it is in such disrepair that using it is impractical or a health hazard.
State law requires an abandoned well to be plugged within one year after it becomes abandoned.
The landowner is responsible for plugging an abandoned well. If it was abandoned after January 1, 1988, a licensed driller or pump installer must do the plugging.
No state law run by the DNR Division of Water requires you to abandon your well when the property connects to public water.
Wells abandoned before January 1, 1988 may be sealed at the surface, and that sealing may be done by the property owner rather than a licensed contractor.
Source: When a well counts as abandoned
Checking a contractor's license
The DNR publishes lists of well drilling and pump installation contractors with offices in Indiana, the four nearby states and elsewhere, with addresses and phone numbers.
Only contractors with currently licensed drillers or pump installers are listed. To check one person's license, call the Division of Water at 1-877-928-3755.
The DNR says to always hire a licensed driller or pump installer and compare prices. Indiana requires a home improvement contract for residential work over $150.
The Division of Water lists contractors as a public service and does not recommend particular ones.
Sources: DNR contractor lists; Get a written contract
Common questions
Does Indiana require private well owners to test their water?
No. The Indiana Department of Health says private well water is not regulated by IDEM or the EPA, so owners are responsible for its safety, and it recommends testing at least once a year.