Drilling a Well in Hartley County Requires a Permit From a Groundwater District

The Ogallala Aquifer is the water under almost everything in Hartley County: the source for the farms, the towns, and most rural homes. Pull from it at any real volume and you're in the territory of the North Plains Groundwater Conservation District. Plan to drill a well expected to make 17.5 gallons per minute or more, and you apply for a permit before the rig ever shows up.

That permit step exists because the Ogallala has been dropping for decades across the High Plains, and the district tracks well spacing and production to stretch what's left. They run a management plan aimed at keeping the aquifer usable for the long haul.

Buying rural land and counting on well water? Call the district early, before you close. Spacing rules and permit thresholds can change what's drillable on a given tract. You can reach them at [email protected] or (806) 935-6401.