As the year comes to a close, please remember this update for new wells in the new year: The Colorado Division of Water Resources (DWR) updated rules affecting how wells are permitted and constructed statewide. These updates raise the bar for protecting public health and groundwater quality across Colorado.
Permitting Changes (HB25-1014, effective Aug. 2025)
- Construction deadlines for permits outside designated groundwater basins are 2 years by default.
- Expired permits may be reinstated with a simple construction confirmation and a $30 fee, reducing administrative delays.
Construction Standards (2 CCR 402-2 rule amendment, effective Jan. 2026)
- New assessments for private well drillers & pump installers to ensure safe practices.
- Stricter confined aquifer standards – larger grout intervals, full seals from the production zone to the surface, and new flexibility with casing & grout materials.
- Updated monitoring/observation well rules – tighter requirements for grout, filter packs, and abandonment to better protect groundwater.
