A new well in Colorado County, TX typically costs about $4,600 to $10,200 in 2026 for a complete system, because the median new household well filed with the state since 2016 is 165 feet deep. A shallower well near 139 feet runs about $3,900 to $8,600.
Colorado County, around Columbus, Eagle Lake, Weimar, Garwood, and Sheridan, straddles the Colorado River west of Houston, where many rural homes outside a water supply corporation’s lines rely on a private well. Below are the real local depths from state well records, the water-quality issues to plan for, the permit rules, and a free way to reach a licensed local driller.
How deep are wells in Colorado County?
Most new household wells in Colorado County are 139 to 212 feet deep, with a median of 165 feet. That comes from 1,356 new domestic wells drillers reported to the state from 2016 through October 2026 in the TWDB Submitted Driller’s Report database.
| Measure (new domestic wells, 2016 to 2026) | Colorado County |
|---|---|
| Wells in the sample | 1,356 |
| Typical depth range (middle half) | 139 to 212 ft |
| Median depth | 165 ft |
| Shallowest 10% / deepest 10% | under 115 ft / over 260 ft |
| Median static water level | 65 ft below ground |
| Median pump setting | 120 ft |
| Median tested yield | 40 gallons per minute |
Static water sits about 65 feet down in a typical Colorado County well, so the pump is usually set around 120 feet to ride out dry summers.
Which aquifer will my Colorado County well tap?
Your well will most likely draw from the Gulf Coast Aquifer, which the TWDB Colorado County water planning summary lists for rural water systems. The Jasper is the deeper layer in the north, and the underlying Catahoula sands generally carry poorer water (CCGCD management plan).
Colorado County has the shallowest median well in this batch, which is why it is also the cheapest to drill.
How much does it cost to drill a well in Colorado County?
Plan on about $4,600 to $10,200 for a complete well at the 165-foot median depth. Angi’s 2026 guide puts Texas well drilling at $28 to $62 per foot (Angi), and HomeGuide puts a complete installation, including casing, pump, wiring, and permits, at $30 to $80 or more per foot (HomeGuide). These are estimates from national cost guides applied to local depths, not local quotes.
| Well depth | Estimated 2026 cost at $28 to $62/ft |
|---|---|
| Shallow (139 ft) | $3,900 to $8,600 |
| Median (165 ft) | $4,600 to $10,200 |
| Deep (212 ft) | $5,900 to $13,100 |
Budget separately for water treatment. HomeGuide lists well-water filtration systems at $800 to $4,000 and water softeners at $1,200 to $3,800. Colorado County GCD registration is free. For how the line items break down, see what it costs to drill a well in Texas. If your pump ever needs replacing, here is Texas well pump replacement cost.
Worked example: a 165-foot well at $40 per foot is $6,600. Drilling only to 139 feet at the same rate would save about $1,000 up front, but only if the shallower zone gives enough good water. Ask the driller what nearby wells at that depth produced before you choose.
What water quality problems are common in Colorado County wells?
The district’s management plan notes iron oxide and iron-manganese oxide concretions in the weathered zones of the shallow formations and poorer water in the Catahoula (CCGCD management plan). TWDB says Gulf Coast Aquifer water is generally good in the central part of the aquifer but gets more saline to the south (TWDB).
A USGS survey of the Texas Gulf Coast aquifer system found arsenic and manganese were the only trace elements above human-health benchmarks (USGS Fact Sheet 2020-3010).
For reference, the EPA’s secondary (non-health) guidelines are 0.3 mg/L for iron, 250 mg/L for sulfate and chloride, 500 mg/L for dissolved solids, and a pH of 6.5 to 8.5 (EPA). The Texas Well Owner Network guide recommends testing a new well and retesting yearly. If you plan a tankless water heater, read tankless water heaters on well water.
Do I need a permit to drill a well in Colorado County?
Colorado County is covered by the Colorado County Groundwater Conservation District, and every well must be registered, including household wells and windmills. Registration is one-time and free (CCGCD FAQ). Permit exemptions depend on the management zone. South and east of a road-defined line in the district rules (Zone 1), a well that cannot produce more than 50,000 gallons a day is exempt. North and west of it (Zone 2), the limit is 50,000 gallons a day on 5 acres or more and 25,000 gallons a day on less than 5 acres. No well may be drilled on less than 1 acre without TDLR-approved safeguards, and a well within 50 feet of a property line (but no closer than 5 feet) needs an oversized, sealed annular space (CCGCD rules amended March 18, 2026).
Statewide, anyone who drills a water well or installs a well pump must hold a license from the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation (TDLR), the well must meet TDLR’s minimum distances from septic systems and other contamination sources, and the driller files a State Well Report for every new well. Those reports are the records behind the depth table above. Septic (OSSF) permits are separate; see aerobic vs conventional septic in Texas.
What should I ask a driller before I hire?
- Are you licensed by TDLR as a water well driller and pump installer? (Check the number at the TDLR license search.)
- What depth have your last few wells near my property reached?
- How do you price it: per foot, or a package with casing, pump, tank, and wiring included?
- Will you test for iron, manganese, and arsenic after development?
- Which Colorado County GCD management zone is my land in, and will you register the well?
- What happens if the first hole does not produce enough water?
If the well tests low, a storage tank can smooth it out; see storage tanks for low-yield wells. For outages, see sizing a generator for a well pump.
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Related Texas well guides
Common questions
Most complete wells in Colorado County should land around $4,600 to $10,200 in 2026, based on the 165-foot median depth of new domestic wells in state records and Angi’s $28 to $62 per foot Texas range. Treatment and district fees are extra.
The median new household well reported to the state from 2016 to 2026 in Colorado County is 165 feet deep, and the middle half range from 139 to 212 feet. Median static water level is about 65 feet, per the TWDB Submitted Driller’s Report database.
Every well in Colorado County must be registered with the Colorado County GCD, and registration is free. Household wells are permit-exempt under 50,000 gallons a day, except on tracts under 5 acres in the district’s northern zone, where the limit is 25,000 gallons a day.
Fresh Gulf Coast Aquifer sand sits close to the surface here. The median new household well filed with the state since 2016 is 165 feet deep, with static water about 65 feet down, per TWDB driller reports. Shallower wells cost less, but test for iron and manganese.
Sources: depth, water level, yield, and pump data are Offsprig’s analysis of the TWDB Submitted Driller’s Report download (pulled October 2026; new wells with proposed use “Domestic,” completed 2016 or later). Water-quality figures come from the TWDB and district reports linked above; older studies reflect conditions when sampled. Costs are estimates from Angi and HomeGuide 2026 per-foot ranges, not quotes. Always confirm current rules with TDLR and your groundwater district.
Updated October 2026 · By Paul Michael