No Local Groundwater District Means Fewer Rules for Water Wells

Groundwater conservation districts cover about 70 percent of the state's land area. A groundwater conservation district can require permits and limit how much water you pump from a well. Schleicher County is not inside one of these districts.

The county gets its water from the Edwards-Trinity Plateau Aquifer. That is a major underground water source beneath the Edwards Plateau.

Without a local district, state rules still apply to well construction. The Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ), the state agency that oversees environmental rules, sets standards for well casing and setbacks. If you plan to drill a well, hire a licensed driller. Check the TWDB and TCEQ websites for current state requirements.

Water levels in parts of this aquifer have dropped in areas with heavy irrigation. Test your well before you rely on it.