Plumbing Tips (1)ARVADA PLUMBING SERVICES’ GUIDE TO THE USE OF WELLS AS A WATER SUPPLY IN COLORADO
You may be planning new construction or upgrading your entire water supply and plumbing system in a region of Denver that is not covered with a municipally provided source of water. This necessarily means you are going to need a well. Fortunately, the Colorado State University Extension office has offered up everything you need to know if you are planning on having a well on your property, and Arvada Plumbing Services is certainly the leader in interfacing such wells with your home or business plumbing system. In our article below, we will offer you the answers to the most common questions about wells you need to know, all of which have been thoroughly researched by the Colorado Division of Water Resources, also known as the State Engineer's Office and deemed accurate by Colorado State University. While Arvada Plumbing Services is not a well drilling company, they are the foremost experts in the Denver area interfacing with wells and have great experience working and interacting with well companies to create great outcomes for new construction sites and the like. |
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THEY CAN HELP ADVISE YOU WHERE TO GO AND WHAT TO DO
And they can ensure that you too achieve a modern, efficient and long-lasting water system.
The cost of drilling a well varies because there can be great variations in the depth you must go down to in order to reach water.
The underground water supplies are fed by naturally occurring aquifers that act like rivers flowing beneath the ground through porous ground materials like gravel, sand and broken rocks.
There may be breaks in the underground rock structures that allow the free flow of water. According to Colorado State University, the mountainous Front Range of Colorado has well depths averaging 350 feet, where in the Eastern parts of Colorado the depths can greatly vary anywhere from 40 to 1,000 feet in depth.
AQUIFERS VARY IN THE WAY THEY INTERACT WITH SURFACE WATER
The aquifer may be widespread spreading hundreds of miles underground or limited to more specific boundaries.
Some bubble to the surface and contribute to feeding the above-ground streams that are seen throughout the state, while others actually grow by rain and surface water dripping downwards and contributing to the aquifer.
These variations can have a direct effect on the quality of the water you will encounter, and additionally, the quantity of the water available. Your local extension office may have general maps available when you are considering plans to drill a well and it is always good to consult with them along with Arvada Plumbing as you make your decisions.
In general, the deeper the source of water, the greater likelihood that it will be of good quality whereas water closer to the ground has a greater chance of being contaminated by agriculture, industry or urban sprawl.
If, after doing your research, you feel you have a good chance at obtaining the well water you seek, you will require a permit from the Colorado Division of Water Resources which, as mentioned before, is also known as the State Engineer's Office.
THERE ARE CERTAIN RULES GOVERNING THE USE OF WELLS IN COLORADO
In the rural areas of the state, ground water wells are a primary source of water.
There are approximately 4,000 new permits issued every year for wells in the state. Most of the wells issued to homeowners are considered exempt from the state's Water Rights Priority System.
Wells used for irrigation fall under the regulations of the system and are not exempt. Thus, of the 200,000 plus well permits currently in the system, most of them are exempt status and are limited to a water flow of 15 gallons per minute.
When a given lot size is smaller than 35 acres, the water use can be limited to in-house only.
Wells that are drilled to be used for irrigation fall under the regulations of the Priority System and have to make provisions to replace the water they take out back to the stream system.
NATURAL CONDITIONS GREATLY INFLUENCE THE AMOUNT OF WATER A WELL PRODUCES
These include variations in the underground rocks and the different heights of the terrain and the pitch of the inclines at the surface.
If any given aquifer gets water pumped out at a rate that exceeds the replacement water flowing in, there can be a water shortage. Drought conditions can also cause a well to dry up seasonally.
When planning to supply your house with well water there are generally accepted specifications you can use to calculate the water consumption. On the average, each member of the family takes up 75 gallons of water per day for a variety of uses.
For the typical family, this usage can be accommodated with a well pump that produces one half gallon of water per minute or 30 gallons per hour.
The use of a pressure tank at the surface to hold an adequate surplus of water to assure continuous feed may be required. Because many Colorado wells are quite deep and the bore pipe may be six inches in diameter, each foot of depth in the pipe hold one and a half gallons of water.
This means that a 100 foot well will effectively have 150 gallons of water already stored in the pipeline and not require supplemental tanking.
Because the business of water regulation and well permitting can be daunting for families starting out construction, some of the most common questions are answered below:
HOW DO I APPLY FOR A PERMIT?
The State Engineer's Office can provide you with an online form to apply for a permit: http://water.state.co.us/pubs/wellforms.asp. You can always get advice from Arvada Plumbing Services if you have difficulty filling out the paperwork, and they may refer you to the licensed well water drilling company regarding items specific to your property and needs. Most permits are good for the life of the well and do not require renewal.
AM I EXEMPT OR NON-EXEMPT FOR AN AUGMENTATION PLAN?
If you are considered exempt, you do not need an augmentation plan. Most household wells in Colorado are exempt. Water in the State of Colorado makes use of a policy called the "First in Time, First in Right" priority system. As aforementioned, this limits the amount of water flow to 15 gallons per minute and stipulates that the wastewater is drained into a non-evaporative system such as a septic tank or septic field. For calculation purposes, it is assumed that 90% of the total water pumped is returned to the ground beneath the property and consequently filtered by the earth and drained back into the water supply.
IS THERE MORE THAN ONE KIND OF EXEMPT WELL?
There are two basic kinds of exempt wells, those for residential homes and others for livestock. Properties that are 35 acres or less fall under the household use only exemption. Tracks of land 35 acres or larger can be eligible for the livestock exemption. There is one well allowed per parcel and it may be used to supply up to three single family homes, irrigate one acre or less of lawn and garden and provide the water needed for domestic animals. There are certain sporadic ground water basins throughout Colorado where these restrictions are relaxed and they include the Denver Basin and portions of the Western Slope.
WHAT IF MY WELL IS NON-EXEMPT?
If your well is deemed non-exempt, it means you must have an augmentation plan. Such a plan consists of a way to get portions of the water you pump out of the ground back into the streams it depletes. Some multi-home subdivisions in Colorado require augmentation plans. As aforementioned, the adage of First in Time, First in Right under Colorado law means that if you are just now drilling your well, your water rights are considered "junior" to pre-existing wells which are considered "senior." In other words, junior rights do not permit you to remove water from a system if it will adversely affect the senior rights holder. Given the intimate way that the surface water and the deep ground water share a connection, there are a variety of ways a junior rights holder could adversely affect the water flow of a senior rights holder. Your individual augmentation plan must account for any such depletion that might injure the senior water rights holder and provide calculations showing that in a given location, the needed amount of water will be replaced in the proper amount of time. Creating a good augmentation plan is often best accomplished with the help of a consulting water resource engineer and a water attorney who has been through litigating these things and knows the ropes.
I FOUND THE PERFECT PROPERTY BUT THE WELL IS NOT REGISTERED!
Unregistered exempt wells in use prior to May 8, 1972 can apply for an historic use permit providing their intended use will not exceed that of a domestic livestock use permit. Exempt wells installed on or after May 8, 1972 require a permit. Any wells drilled without a permit are considered illegal.
THERE IS AN EXISTING ABANDONED WELL ON MY PROPERTY
The Office of the State Engineer requires that abandoned wells be plugged and the current property owner is responsible for complying with this regulation.
MY NEIGHBORS HAVE A LIVESTOCK WATER PERMIT. WHY CAN'T I GET ONE?
This is likely because they had their well installed before May 8, 1972
ARE THESE RULES THE SAME THROUGHOUT COLORADO?
There are exceptions like certain ground water basins in the East and the Denver Basin along the Front Range. Are these rules the same everywhere? Clarity on these specific areas can be found by consulting with the Colorado Ground Water Commission who administers these regions.
CAN I GET A COPY OF MY WELL PERMIT?
You can contact the Colorado Division of Water Resources at (303) 866-3447 between the hours of 10:00 a.m. and 3:30 p.m. to obtain a copy of your permit. You can facilitate identifying your records by having a copy of your well permit number, and by knowing the specification of your lot's legal description including the quarter section, township and range. The name of the original owner who built the well and names of other previous land owners may also be helpful to help them identify your specific well.
HOW DO I PICK A WATER WELL DRILLING COMPANY?
Arvada Plumbing Services can help you identify a licensed contractor suitable for the work you require. You can also always check in with the nearest Colorado Division of Water Resources branch office, or contact the Colorado Board of Examiners, at (303) 866-3581 to check the license of a given contractor.
WHAT THINGS SHOULD I KNOW ABOUT WATER WHEN CONSIDERING THE PURCHASE OF LAND?
Because Colorado is sensitive about water management and has many regulations there are two categories you must consider.
IF THERE IS A PRE-EXISTING WELL ON THE PROPERTY, THEN . . .
• What date was the well drilled?
• Is the well on record at the Colorado Division of Water Resources?
• If the well was drilled on or after May 8, 1972, was the well permit applied for?
• Is the well permit, well completion report and the pump installation report available for viewing?
• Is the permit granted "household-use only" or "domestic and livestock use"?
• Who was the well contractor?
• How deep is the well?
• Are there copies of water quality tests?
• What is the output of the well in gallons per minute?
• Is the well at least 100 feet from the existing septic field?
IF THERE IS NO WELL PRESENT . . .
• Has a permit to drill a well ever been previously applied for?
• Has a permit been issued but drilling never started and is the permit still good?
• How deep are the neighbors wells?
• How is the neighbor's water quality?
• Is there adequate room on the land to separate the well head and the septic field by 100 feet?
Remember that you should contact the Ground Water Information hotline at the Colorado Division of Water Resources at (303) 866-3587 between 9:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m. if you require more information or visit them at their website
http://water.state.co.us/groundwater/groundwater.asp
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And they can ensure that you too achieve a modern, efficient and long-lasting water system.
The cost of drilling a well varies because there can be great variations in the depth you must go down to in order to reach water.
The underground water supplies are fed by naturally occurring aquifers that act like rivers flowing beneath the ground through porous ground materials like gravel, sand and broken rocks.
There may be breaks in the underground rock structures that allow the free flow of water. According to Colorado State University, the mountainous Front Range of Colorado has well depths averaging 350 feet, where in the Eastern parts of Colorado the depths can greatly vary anywhere from 40 to 1,000 feet in depth.
AQUIFERS VARY IN THE WAY THEY INTERACT WITH SURFACE WATER
The aquifer may be widespread spreading hundreds of miles underground or limited to more specific boundaries.
Some bubble to the surface and contribute to feeding the above-ground streams that are seen throughout the state, while others actually grow by rain and surface water dripping downwards and contributing to the aquifer.
These variations can have a direct effect on the quality of the water you will encounter, and additionally, the quantity of the water available. Your local extension office may have general maps available when you are considering plans to drill a well and it is always good to consult with them along with Arvada Plumbing as you make your decisions.
In general, the deeper the source of water, the greater likelihood that it will be of good quality whereas water closer to the ground has a greater chance of being contaminated by agriculture, industry or urban sprawl.
If, after doing your research, you feel you have a good chance at obtaining the well water you seek, you will require a permit from the Colorado Division of Water Resources which, as mentioned before, is also known as the State Engineer's Office.
THERE ARE CERTAIN RULES GOVERNING THE USE OF WELLS IN COLORADO
In the rural areas of the state, ground water wells are a primary source of water.
There are approximately 4,000 new permits issued every year for wells in the state. Most of the wells issued to homeowners are considered exempt from the state's Water Rights Priority System.
Wells used for irrigation fall under the regulations of the system and are not exempt. Thus, of the 200,000 plus well permits currently in the system, most of them are exempt status and are limited to a water flow of 15 gallons per minute.
When a given lot size is smaller than 35 acres, the water use can be limited to in-house only.
Wells that are drilled to be used for irrigation fall under the regulations of the Priority System and have to make provisions to replace the water they take out back to the stream system.
NATURAL CONDITIONS GREATLY INFLUENCE THE AMOUNT OF WATER A WELL PRODUCES
These include variations in the underground rocks and the different heights of the terrain and the pitch of the inclines at the surface.
If any given aquifer gets water pumped out at a rate that exceeds the replacement water flowing in, there can be a water shortage. Drought conditions can also cause a well to dry up seasonally.
When planning to supply your house with well water there are generally accepted specifications you can use to calculate the water consumption. On the average, each member of the family takes up 75 gallons of water per day for a variety of uses.
For the typical family, this usage can be accommodated with a well pump that produces one half gallon of water per minute or 30 gallons per hour.
The use of a pressure tank at the surface to hold an adequate surplus of water to assure continuous feed may be required. Because many Colorado wells are quite deep and the bore pipe may be six inches in diameter, each foot of depth in the pipe hold one and a half gallons of water.
This means that a 100 foot well will effectively have 150 gallons of water already stored in the pipeline and not require supplemental tanking.
Because the business of water regulation and well permitting can be daunting for families starting out construction, some of the most common questions are answered below:
HOW DO I APPLY FOR A PERMIT?
The State Engineer's Office can provide you with an online form to apply for a permit: http://water.state.co.us/pubs/wellforms.asp. You can always get advice from Arvada Plumbing Services if you have difficulty filling out the paperwork, and they may refer you to the licensed well water drilling company regarding items specific to your property and needs. Most permits are good for the life of the well and do not require renewal.
AM I EXEMPT OR NON-EXEMPT FOR AN AUGMENTATION PLAN?
If you are considered exempt, you do not need an augmentation plan. Most household wells in Colorado are exempt. Water in the State of Colorado makes use of a policy called the "First in Time, First in Right" priority system. As aforementioned, this limits the amount of water flow to 15 gallons per minute and stipulates that the wastewater is drained into a non-evaporative system such as a septic tank or septic field. For calculation purposes, it is assumed that 90% of the total water pumped is returned to the ground beneath the property and consequently filtered by the earth and drained back into the water supply.
IS THERE MORE THAN ONE KIND OF EXEMPT WELL?
There are two basic kinds of exempt wells, those for residential homes and others for livestock. Properties that are 35 acres or less fall under the household use only exemption. Tracks of land 35 acres or larger can be eligible for the livestock exemption. There is one well allowed per parcel and it may be used to supply up to three single family homes, irrigate one acre or less of lawn and garden and provide the water needed for domestic animals. There are certain sporadic ground water basins throughout Colorado where these restrictions are relaxed and they include the Denver Basin and portions of the Western Slope.
WHAT IF MY WELL IS NON-EXEMPT?
If your well is deemed non-exempt, it means you must have an augmentation plan. Such a plan consists of a way to get portions of the water you pump out of the ground back into the streams it depletes. Some multi-home subdivisions in Colorado require augmentation plans. As aforementioned, the adage of First in Time, First in Right under Colorado law means that if you are just now drilling your well, your water rights are considered "junior" to pre-existing wells which are considered "senior." In other words, junior rights do not permit you to remove water from a system if it will adversely affect the senior rights holder. Given the intimate way that the surface water and the deep ground water share a connection, there are a variety of ways a junior rights holder could adversely affect the water flow of a senior rights holder. Your individual augmentation plan must account for any such depletion that might injure the senior water rights holder and provide calculations showing that in a given location, the needed amount of water will be replaced in the proper amount of time. Creating a good augmentation plan is often best accomplished with the help of a consulting water resource engineer and a water attorney who has been through litigating these things and knows the ropes.
I FOUND THE PERFECT PROPERTY BUT THE WELL IS NOT REGISTERED!
Unregistered exempt wells in use prior to May 8, 1972 can apply for an historic use permit providing their intended use will not exceed that of a domestic livestock use permit. Exempt wells installed on or after May 8, 1972 require a permit. Any wells drilled without a permit are considered illegal.
THERE IS AN EXISTING ABANDONED WELL ON MY PROPERTY
The Office of the State Engineer requires that abandoned wells be plugged and the current property owner is responsible for complying with this regulation.
MY NEIGHBORS HAVE A LIVESTOCK WATER PERMIT. WHY CAN'T I GET ONE?
This is likely because they had their well installed before May 8, 1972
ARE THESE RULES THE SAME THROUGHOUT COLORADO?
There are exceptions like certain ground water basins in the East and the Denver Basin along the Front Range. Are these rules the same everywhere? Clarity on these specific areas can be found by consulting with the Colorado Ground Water Commission who administers these regions.
CAN I GET A COPY OF MY WELL PERMIT?
You can contact the Colorado Division of Water Resources at (303) 866-3447 between the hours of 10:00 a.m. and 3:30 p.m. to obtain a copy of your permit. You can facilitate identifying your records by having a copy of your well permit number, and by knowing the specification of your lot's legal description including the quarter section, township and range. The name of the original owner who built the well and names of other previous land owners may also be helpful to help them identify your specific well.
HOW DO I PICK A WATER WELL DRILLING COMPANY?
Arvada Plumbing Services can help you identify a licensed contractor suitable for the work you require. You can also always check in with the nearest Colorado Division of Water Resources branch office, or contact the Colorado Board of Examiners, at (303) 866-3581 to check the license of a given contractor.
WHAT THINGS SHOULD I KNOW ABOUT WATER WHEN CONSIDERING THE PURCHASE OF LAND?
Because Colorado is sensitive about water management and has many regulations there are two categories you must consider.
IF THERE IS A PRE-EXISTING WELL ON THE PROPERTY, THEN . . .
• What date was the well drilled?
• Is the well on record at the Colorado Division of Water Resources?
• If the well was drilled on or after May 8, 1972, was the well permit applied for?
• Is the well permit, well completion report and the pump installation report available for viewing?
• Is the permit granted "household-use only" or "domestic and livestock use"?
• Who was the well contractor?
• How deep is the well?
• Are there copies of water quality tests?
• What is the output of the well in gallons per minute?
• Is the well at least 100 feet from the existing septic field?
IF THERE IS NO WELL PRESENT . . .
• Has a permit to drill a well ever been previously applied for?
• Has a permit been issued but drilling never started and is the permit still good?
• How deep are the neighbors wells?
• How is the neighbor's water quality?
• Is there adequate room on the land to separate the well head and the septic field by 100 feet?
Remember that you should contact the Ground Water Information hotline at the Colorado Division of Water Resources at (303) 866-3587 between 9:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m. if you require more information or visit them at their website
http://water.state.co.us/groundwater/groundwater.asp
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