A new well in Caldwell County, TX typically costs about $7,300 to $16,100 in 2026 for a complete system, because the median new household well filed with the state since 2016 is 260 feet deep. A shallower well near 200 feet runs about $5,600 to $12,400.
Caldwell County, around Lockhart, Luling, Dale, Maxwell, and Prairie Lea, sits southeast of Austin across the Carrizo-Wilcox sand belt, 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 Caldwell County?
Most new household wells in Caldwell County are 200 to 340 feet deep, with a median of 260 feet. That comes from 483 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) | Caldwell County |
|---|---|
| Wells in the sample | 483 |
| Typical depth range (middle half) | 200 to 340 ft |
| Median depth | 260 ft |
| Shallowest 10% / deepest 10% | under 185 ft / over 415 ft |
| Median static water level | 85 ft below ground |
| Median pump setting | 160 ft |
| Median tested yield | 25 gallons per minute |
Static water sits about 85 feet down in a typical Caldwell County well, so the pump is usually set around 160 feet to ride out dry summers.
Which aquifer will my Caldwell County well tap?
Your well will most likely draw from the Carrizo-Wilcox and Queen City sands across the center and east of the county, or the Edwards Aquifer along the I-35 corridor in the west. The TWDB Caldwell County water planning summary lists the Carrizo-Wilcox and Queen City for rural supply.
The Plum Creek Conservation District also lists the alluvium, Leona, Reklaw, and Austin Chalk as household sources, but warns that many Austin Chalk wells eventually go dry (PCCD management plan).
How much does it cost to drill a well in Caldwell County?
Plan on about $7,300 to $16,100 for a complete well at the 260-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 (200 ft) | $5,600 to $12,400 |
| Median (260 ft) | $7,300 to $16,100 |
| Deep (340 ft) | $9,500 to $21,100 |
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. District fees are minimal: Plum Creek registration is $0, and the EAA charges $25 in the west. 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 260-foot well at $40 per foot is $10,400. Drilling only to 200 feet at the same rate would save about $2,400 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 Caldwell County wells?
TWDB’s county study found iron up to 16.1 ppm, above 0.3 ppm in 31 of 73 samples, mostly in the Wilcox, Carrizo, Reklaw, and Queen City. Sulfate topped 250 ppm in 30 of 273 samples, peaking at 1,460 ppm, mostly in the Wilcox and Reklaw. Most samples were very hard, but deeper sand wells could be soft (TWDB Report 12, older data).
Shallow wells carry nitrate risk. The same study found 45 of 220 samples above 45 ppm nitrate, mostly dug wells under 50 feet in the Leona and alluvium, and the district says much of the Leona has nitrate levels not recommended for people or livestock (PCCD). The Edwards turns brackish southeast of I-35.
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 Caldwell County?
Most of the county is in the Plum Creek Conservation District. A household well that cannot pump more than 25,000 gallons a day is exempt from permits, with no acreage minimum, but it must be registered (PCCD rules), and registration costs $0 under the fee schedule amended November 18, 2025 (PCCD fees). The southeast corner is in the Gonzales County UWCD, which also requires registration before drilling and exempts household wells from its property-line spacing. Part of the west falls under the Edwards Aquifer Authority, which requires registration and a $25 well construction permit for Edwards wells (EAA).
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?
- Which sand will you screen, and will you test for iron, sulfate, and nitrate after development?
- Which district is my land in, and will you handle the registration?
- 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.
Get matched with a Caldwell County well pro
Tell us about your project and we will pass it to a licensed local driller who works in Caldwell County. Offsprig is paid by the contractor, never by you.
Related Texas well guides
Common questions
Most complete wells in Caldwell County should land around $7,300 to $16,100 in 2026, based on the 260-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 Caldwell County is 260 feet deep, and the middle half range from 200 to 340 feet. Median static water level is about 85 feet, per the TWDB Submitted Driller’s Report database.
A household well in Caldwell County is permit-exempt but must be registered. In the Plum Creek Conservation District, which covers most of the county, registration is free. The southeast corner is under the Gonzales County UWCD, and Edwards wells in the west need a $25 EAA permit.
Be careful with them. A TWDB county study found nitrate above 45 ppm in 45 of 220 samples, mostly in dug wells under 50 feet in the Leona and alluvium. Deeper Carrizo-Wilcox wells are the safer choice for drinking water.
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 ยท By Paul Michael