Water well questions, answered
General answers on permits and drilling from a crew that drills both sides of the Texas–New Mexico line.
Get in contact with us
Call or email us about your well.
Drilling a new well
How much does it cost to drill a water well?
It depends on the well. Depth, diameter, casing and screen length all matter, and a domestic well is a different job from an irrigation well. Call or email us to talk about your site.
What size wells do you drill?
We work with a variety of well sizes. Call or email us to talk about your well.
Do you install pumps?
RK Drilling is a drilling contractor. We drill the well. The pump is installed by a pump installer.
Do you offer financing?
Financing is available through Regions Bank, subject to credit approval. See our financing page.
Permits and rules
Do I need a permit to drill a well in Texas?
In High Plains Underground Water Conservation District No. 1, which covers all of Parmer, Bailey and Lamb counties and parts of Castro and Deaf Smith, any well equipped to produce 17.5 gallons per minute or more needs a district permit before drilling. Domestic and livestock wells under that are exempt but can be registered. We provide answers to questions regarding permits.
Do I need a permit to drill a well in New Mexico?
Yes, for every well. Each one needs a permit from the Office of the State Engineer before drilling. Irrigation, dairy and commercial wells in Curry and Roosevelt counties are filed as replacement or supplemental wells on an existing water right because those basins are closed to new appropriations. We provide answers to questions regarding permits.
How far does a well have to be from the property line?
State construction rules set how far a well must be from property lines, septic systems and livestock pens. In the High Plains Water District, permitted wells also have spacing rules that depend on the pump rate. Check with the state and the district for current requirements.
Our rig and replacement wells
What kind of rig do you drill with?
A DrillMax 450 mud rotary rig. Drilling fluid circulates down the drill pipe and back up the hole, carrying the cuttings out and holding the hole open in the loose sand and gravel of the Ogallala until the casing, screen and gravel pack are set. The well is then developed.
My old well has lost production. Should I drill a new one?
Sometimes. On much of the High Plains the water table has dropped below part of the screen on older wells, and a new well can be one answer. A pump installer can tell you whether the problem is the pump or the well.