Staff: Ray Milosh, R.E.H.S.
Well Program Specialist
Phone: 919-545-8319

In 2020, The Chatham County Board of Health revised the rules governing the Construction, Repair, and Abandonment of Wells in Chatham County to protect the groundwater resources and public health in Chatham County. The following NC Rules were adopted by reference: Section .0300 Permitting and Inspection of Private Drinking Water Wells, Section .3800-Private Drinking Water Well Sampling Rules and Well Construction Standards DWQ 2C .0100.  Any person who wants to construct a private well in Chatham County must first obtain a permit from the Environmental Health Division.

The well permit is valid for 5 years.
To obtain a well permit, you will need to submit the following:

• Application
• Site plan
• Flood plain determination (see below)
• Fees can now be paid online

Applications can be submitted via:

• In Person at 80 East Street, Pittsboro, NC, or
• Mail - PO BOX 130, Pittsboro, NC 27312, or
• New - Online Application and Payment Portal Link for Environmental Health(Instructions for Creating an Online Application Portal Account)

Upon processing the application, an appointment will be scheduled for a Registered Environmental Health Specialist (REHS) to visit the property to approve a well site. The REHS will issue the well permit along with a site plan showing the approved well area. Once the well permit is issued, the well contractor can install the well. After the well is drilled, the well contractor will make an appointment with the REHS so the REHS can inspect the well grout for compliance with the well rules. 

A Bacteriological Analysis, Inorganic Analysis and Nitrate Analysis are required per State Law for all newly constructed wells. The owner or owner's legal representative must submit a water sample application before a water sample can be collected.

IMPORTANT: Before requesting an appointment for a new well to be sampled, the well head must be completed, the pump installed, provided with electricity, and all chlorine disinfectant pumped from the well.

The Environmental Health Division can be reached from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday at (919) 542-8208.

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