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WELL CONSTRUCTION/REPAIR/ DESTRUCTION PROGRAM

Important Notice: Pursuant to page 4 number 9. a & b of Executive Order N-7-22 and Executive Order N-3-23 signed by Governor Newsom and issued by the State of California, effective March 28, 2022, all new well applications submitted are required to be reviewed following specific guidelines as established in the Governor’s order. Please allow additional time for review of any new well application submitted to ensure compliance. You will be contacted once the review is complete. Thank you for your cooperation.

NEW: Well Permit Applications

Well Permitting Process

• Submit application to EHB. All applications must be signed by the property owner and submitted by the C-57 California licensed contractor with the appropriate fees and map of location. Each well requires a separate application.

Mailing Address
Drinking Water Protection Services-Well Program
1270 Natividad Rd
Salinas, CA 93906

• What is the 2.5 acre requirement?
  • If sewage disposal is or will be by an on-site waste disposal system and the lot can be served by a water system, the property must be at least 2.5 acres in order to obtain a permit to construct.
  • Once the application is received, it is reviewed for violations on the property.
  • If a violation exists, the application cannot be approved until the violation is cleared

• The application is also reviewed for the technical content including proposed annular seal depth and thickness, sealing material, and type of casing material. It is important to include a detailed site map showing location of all septic tanks, leach fields/pits, sewer lines, and other potential contaminating agents.
• The application is also referred to all of the appropriate county or city agencies for review and comments
• Wells in the Coastal zone require a Coastal Permit before the well permit can be approved.
  • Apply through the Monterey County Planning Department
  • Well destructions may require a video log to determine the condition of the casing.
  • A site visit will also be conducted to verify all setbacks can be met. Setbacks include:
    • Any sewer line (sanitary, industrials or storm: main or lateral) – minimum of 50 feet horizontal separation
    • Watertight septic tank or subsurface sewage leaching filed – minimum of 100 feet horizontal separation
    • Cesspool or seepage pit – minimum of 150 feet horizontal separation
    • Animal or fowl enclosure- minimum of 100 feet horizontal separation
  • In order to adequately evaluate potential hazards, location of septic (primary and replacement area) and proposed or existing buildings is analyzed on the parcel and adjacent lots
  • Accessibility for drilling and future well maintenance is also considered

Other site restrictions that may affect septic placement, and thus the well location are slope, drainage areas, and ponds or creeks

• The permit is issued once all of the requirements are satisfied
• Prior to placement of a well seal, the driller must submit a seal proposal to the EHB for review and approval. This proposal is forwarded to any appropriate agency(s) for review and comments.
  • It is important to note that EHB does not determine the depth of the well or seal. It is up to the applicant and contractor to propose the depths.
  • EHB will review the proposed depth to determine if it will meet the applicable standards. Chapter 15.04 of the Monterey County Code requires a seal to do all of the following:
    • Restore, as far as feasible, the controlling hydrological conditions that existed before the well was drilled and constructed, including the elimination of physical hazards.
    • Prevent pollution of groundwater.
    • Conserve the yield and hydrostatic head of aquifers.
    • Prevent intermingling of desirable and undesirable waters
• Once a seal depth is approved, EHB will witness placement of the seal.

If an applicant or contractor disagrees with the directive of any EHB staff, they can appeal to the staff person’s direct supervisor. If they are still unsatisfied, they can appeal to the Assistant Director and then to the Director and ultimately to the County Board of Supervisors

 Abandoned Wells

Abandoned wells pose a threat to groundwater quality and are a safety hazard. See this PowerPoint to find out more about identifying and abating abandoned wells.

Application Package

The application package to construct, repair or destroy a well consists of:

• Completed Application
  • Construction
  • Destruction
  • Repair
  • Borehole
  • Cathodic Protection
  • Supplemental Emergency Well Application
• Application Fee
  • Well Fee Schedule
  • Map For Well Fees
• Detailed Map of Location
• Driller's List

Other Agencies

• Housing and Community Development
• Monterey County Water Resource Agency
• Monterey Peninsula Water Management Boundary and Requirements for Wells

Pajaro Valley Water Management Agency Requirements

• Map
• Well Requirements

Well Standards

• California Well Standards
• Monterey County Code- Chapter 15.08

FAQ’s in the Well Program