Duval County Has Its Own Groundwater District

A Duval County well starts with the local groundwater district, not just a driller's calendar. Duval County Groundwater Conservation District covers the county and sits in Groundwater Management Area 16 with nearby South Texas districts.

The local rule of thumb is plain: all wells need registration before or soon after drilling. A well that can make more than 25,000 gallons a day, or 17.36 gallons a minute, needs an operating permit before drilling. After the well is finished, the driller's log is due to the district within 90 days.

For a rural tract, ask for the registration, any operating permit, and the driller's log. The district also keeps an online map of registered wells, which gives you a clearer look than guessing from a windmill, tank, or old casing in the brush. On dry South Texas land, the paper trail is part of the water supply.