Water Wells

A water well is any excavation or penetration in the ground, whether drilled, bored, cored, driven, washed, jetted, hand dug or otherwise constructed that enters or passes through an aquifer for purposes that may include, but are not limited to, a potable water supply, exploration for water, industrial irrigation, commercial, dewatering, or geothermal heat pump wells, and water return wells.  Many commercial applications are exempt from this definition.  No person shall drill, construct, alter or abandon a water well within Gilmer County without a valid permit issued by Gilmer County Health Department in accordance with W.V. 64 C.S.R. 19 Water Well Regulations.  To obtain a permit, a homeowner and a certified well driller submitted a completed Application for a Permit to Construct, Modify or Abandon a Water Well with payment of applicable fees to Gilmer County Health Department.  Gilmer County Health Department may issue a permit following a site evaluation of the water well under consideration.  Permits expire one year following issuance if the construction, modification or abandonment of the water well is not performed.  Following issuance of a permit, water wells may be constructed, modified or abandoned in accordance with W.V. 64 C.S.R. 46 Water Well Design Standards.

Water well pumps must be installed either a certified water well pump installer or a homeowner who has passed an examination administered by Gilmer County Health Department.  Homeowners who choose to install their water well pumps may contact Gilmer County Health Department for test scheduling information.  Potable water well plumbing must comply with backflow and cross-connection requirements detailed in W.V. 64 C.S.R. 15 Cross-Connection Control & Backflow Prevention.

Gilmer County Health Department may conduct bacteriological testing of water wells used as potable water sources.  Submit a completed Request for Water Analysis with payment of applicable fees to Gilmer County Health Department to schedule water test collection.  Additional fees may be billed by the West Virginia Office of Laboratory Services for analysis of of the water sample.  Mineralogical water test may be arranged directly with the West Virginia Office of Laboratory Services Environmental Chemistry Section.