Why are wells important to the water district? Our groundwater basins are a precious resource which the Santa Clara Valley Water District aggressively protects from contamination and the threat of contamination. Furthermore, the groundwater basins would soon be depleted without the water district's continuous efforts to replenish the groundwater supply.

Information for well owners
You can request a printed version of our 2001 publication, "A Guide For The Private Well Owner" by calling the Public Information Office at (408) 265-2607 ext. 2238 or download it [PDF 945 KB]. This publication will answer many of your questions about a well owner's responsibilities, how to maintain a well properly and how to test for water quality.

Water production
Because the water district contributes to the maintenance of the groundwater basins, certain well owners are required to pay the water district for the well water they use. Here is the excerpt from the District Act that authorizes the district to charge customers for groundwater. The district board of directors passed a resolution which requires certain well owners to have a meter installed.

Here is some of what the water district's Wells and Water Production Unit offers:

• assist public in completing and filing groundwater production statements
• process requests for groundwater charge zone boundary exclusions
• process requests for water-producing and monitoring well information
• provide meter readings to groundwater customers
• provide well information to well owners
• provide well permitting and well standards interpretation

Well regulations
The Well Ordinance Program is responsible for issuing permits and inspecting all well construction and destruction activities in Santa Clara County. The program was initiated to help keep wells from endangering the public and to help ensure that wells do not threaten the groundwater resources of Santa Clara County.

Application forms are available on-line for well construction, well destruction, and exploratory boring.

Contact us
For more information or assistance with a well, contact the water district’s Wells and Water Production Unit at (408) 265-2607, extension 2660.