Well Water Permit

You need a permit from the Department of Health and Mental Hygiene to install, drill, replace or use a water well in New York City. This includes water well pumps and well pumping equipment. The permit is for both potable (drinking) and non-potable (not for drinking) wells. You can use one application for both.

All permit holders must follow the requirements in Article 141.17 of the NYC Health Code.

• Review requirements: Read NYC Health Code Article 141.17 for Groundwater Well requirements. Contact the NYC Health Department, Office of Public Health Engineering for help with your documents and plans.
  
  Office of Public Health Engineering/Building Water Supply
  42-09 28th St., CN-56
  Long Island City, NY 11101
  Email: phe@health.nyc.gov

• Pay outstanding fines: Pay any fines for Health Code Violations before applying for or renewing your permit. You can pay in person at the NYC Department of Consumer and Worker Protection (DCWP) Citywide Licensing Center or online.
  
  NYC Department of Consumer and Worker Protection (DCWP)
  Licensing Center
  42 Broadway, Lobby
  New York, NY 10004
  Email: onlineappsdocs@dcwp.nyc.gov

• Potable well water: If you need well water for drinking, show that municipal water supply is not accessible. Prove that the water quality meets the standards in Subpart 5-1 of the New York State Sanitary Code. The NYC Department of Environmental Protection can check this.

• Non-potable well water: If the well water is not for drinking, get a Letter of Approval for Groundwater Discharge to Sanitary or Combined Sewer from the Department of Environmental Protection.

• Site assessment: New well applicants must submit a site assessment by a licensed architect or engineer. Include past land use and potential sources of groundwater contamination that may migrate into the well's cone of depression like gas stations, chemical plants, landfills, or transfer stations.

• Property map: New well applicants must also submit a map of the property. Show buildings, the well site, property boundaries and potential pollution sources within 100 feet. A licensed architect or engineer must draft this map.

• Permit fees:

  • Non-Potable Water Well permit application fee: $300
  • Non-Potable Water Well permit renewal fee: $15
  • Potable Water Well permit application fee: $1,090
  • Potable Water Well permit renewal fee: $340

• Payment methods:

  • Personal check (in person only)
  • Certified check (in person only)
  • Company check (in person only)
  • Government check (in person only)
  • American Express (online or in person)
  • Discover (online or in person)
  • Mastercard (online or in person)
  • Visa (online or in person)

• If you gave your application in person, the Department of Consumer and Worker Protection (DCWP) will give you a receipt.
• If you sent your application online, you will get a receipt by email.
• You can check your application status by calling the NYC Department of Health, Office of Public Health Engineering at 718-786-6004.

• Signage:

  • Put a weatherproof sign on each pump, tap and outlet connected to the well.
  • The sign should say, "Danger - Water Unsafe - This well water is NOT to be used for drinking or domestic purposes."
  • Letters on the sign must be at least two inches high.

• Usage:

  • Use well water only for the purposes listed on the permit.
  • Do not connect the well water supply to the building plumbing or the municipal water system.

• Registration:

  • Register the well with the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation before drilling, constructing or abandoning it.
  • This is required by New York State law.

• Sealing or closing a well:

  • Tell the Office of Public Health Engineering if you need to seal or close a water well.
  • Every decommissioned or abandoned well must be sealed to protect the water supply and prevent hazards.
  • The Office of Public Health Engineering may ask you to close a well if it is contaminated, damaged, or not constructed or operated properly.

• Other permits:

  • Getting a permit from the NYC Department of Health and Mental Hygiene (DOHMH) does not cover the needs of other City and State agencies.
  • Apply for all other needed permits, licenses and authorizations.
  • Not following all regulations may result in the suspension of your DOHMH permit until you show proof of compliance.

• Complete the questionnaire:
  Well water questionnaire (PDF)

• Gather documents: Collect all required documents.
  Well water application instructions

• Prepare electronic versions: Make electronic versions of each document. Accepted formats: PDF, JPG, GIF, PNG, XLS, XLSX, DOC, DOCX, VSD and TXT.

• Create an account: Register with the NYC Online Licensing system. Have your credit or debit card ready for payment. You can save and return to your application later.

• Enter information: Select the permit type and fill in the required fields. Fields with an asterisk (*) are required. Upload each supporting document individually.

• Make payment: Pay with a credit or debit card to complete the application.

• Follow up: Check your application status by calling the NYC Department of Health, Office of Public Health Engineering.
  
  NYC Department of Health and Mental Hygiene (DoHMH)
  Office of Public Health Engineering/Building Water Supply
  42-09 28th St., CN-56
  Long Island City, NY 11101
  Email: phe@health.nyc.gov
  Phone: 718-786-6004

• Review documentation: Review all required documents and forms.

• Complete and submit: Complete, sign and bring the application with necessary documents and payment to:
  
  NYC Department of Consumer and Worker Protection (DCWP)
  Licensing Center
  42 Broadway, Lobby
  New York, NY 10004
  Email: onlineappsdocs@dcwp.nyc.gov