Tennessee private well rules
The Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation (TDEC), Division of Water Resources, licenses well drillers, pump installers and water treatment installers under the Water Well Act.
Who licenses well work in Tennessee
The Tennessee Water Well Act of 1963 (TCA Title 69, Chapter 10) requires licensing. Rules are TDEC Rule 0400-45-09 (licensing and construction standards).
Source: TDEC Division of Water Resources
Who may work on a well pump
Tennessee requires pumps to be installed by a TDEC-licensed installer.
Anyone who installs or repairs well pumps, filters or treatment devices must hold a TDEC license.
General contractors, plumbers and electricians may not work on well pumps unless they also hold a TDEC well license.
Sources: Licensed installer required; Repairs need a license too
Does the state require well testing?
Tennessee has no state requirement to sample private water supplies, including at a home sale. Lenders set their own test lists.
TDEC strongly recommends testing private water supplies for bacteria every year, and disinfecting and retesting if bacteria are found.
Public drinking water safety rules do not apply to private wells, so owners are responsible for making sure their water is safe.
Getting your water tested in Tennessee
The Tennessee Department of Health's Environmental Microbiology Unit tests water samples from public and private systems for coliform bacteria.
The state Environmental Chemistry lab tests samples from private wells, among other sources, and takes bottle orders by email or phone.
For a lender-required total coliform test, TDEC points owners to their Environmental Field Office or Contract County contact.
Sources: State lab tests private well samples; Lender coliform samples
Disinfecting a well
Tennessee well construction standards require both the driller and the pump installer to disinfect the well.
TDEC advises repeating disinfection each time the well, pump or pipes are serviced, leaving chlorine in the system at least 12 hours.
Plugging an unused well
TDEC requires unused or threatening wells to be closed by a licensed water well driller to state standards.
TDEC provides a Water Well Closure Abandonment Report form (CN-1241) for documenting well closures.
Sources: Licensed driller must close wells; Closure report form
Checking a contractor's license
TDEC publishes a list of licensed Tennessee well drillers and installers.
TDEC suggests asking for a written contract, insurance, a license certificate and references before hiring.
Sources: State list of licensed drillers and installers; Questions to ask
Common questions
Does Tennessee require private well owners to test their water?
Tennessee has no state requirement to sample private water supplies, including at a home sale. Lenders set their own test lists.