Many Rural Properties in DeWitt County Rely on Private Water Wells

Many rural properties in DeWitt County use private water wells instead of city water. Most draw from one of three aquifers under the county: the Chicot, the Evangeline, or the Jasper. Before you buy, find out about the well. How deep is it? Which aquifer does it draw from? Was a well log filed with the state?

DeWitt County sits inside the Pecan Valley Groundwater Conservation District, based in Cuero at 1009 N. Esplanade Street. Created in 2001, the district sets rules on well spacing and groundwater production across the county, so a new well may need to meet its requirements rather than just the statewide ones. The district can be reached at (361) 275-8188. Because of heavy oil and gas activity in the area, Pecan Valley GCD also runs a water-quality testing program it started in 2015 to track baseline conditions, which is worth knowing if you are buying near drilling.

Texas also requires well drillers to file reports with the state. The Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) and the Texas Water Development Board (TWDB) both keep searchable databases. Ask the seller for any well records they have, and consider a licensed water well driller or a home inspector who knows rural properties to check the well out. The official sources listed here are the place to start.