NY · wells & permits

Water wells in New York

Real drilling records, county depth medians, active contractors, and exactly what it takes to pull a well permit in New York.

The permit, in plain language

No pre-drill permitgeneric

DEC + county pockets

ECL 15-1525

Pre-drill gate: None — report after drilling
Fee: —
Who files: Driller or owner may file
Timeline: Varies

Confirm current fee with authority

Before the rig arrives

Confirm parcel allows a private well (vs required public water connection).
Select a licensed well contractor; obtain owner authorization as required.
No statewide pre-drill permit for typical domestic wells — confirm local/district overlays.
Still complete post-drill filing (registration / well log) on the deadline below.

After drilling: Pre-drill notice + completion report within 30 days → DEC + county pockets

WellMap prepares estimate-backed quote packets and dual-party approvals. It does not issue permits and never auto-submits to government systems. The licensed driller (and/or owner where required by law) is the submitter of record. Verified 2026-07-14.

Top drillers on record

Contractor	Wells	Median depth
NYRD10119	6,187	260 ft
NYRD10178	4,337	298 ft
NYRD10002	3,549	225 ft
NYRD10024	3,503	104 ft
NYRD10080	2,638	180 ft
NYRD10118	2,513	265 ft
NYRD10202	2,363	400 ft
NYRD10230	2,361	77 ft
NYRD10408	2,338	90 ft
NYRD10181	2,055	385 ft

Get a depth estimate anywhere in New York

County by county

Depth statistics across New York

Medians from wells with verified total depth. Click a county for its permit authority, fee and filing channel.

County	Wells	With depth	Median	p10–p90
Orange	8,209	8,090	298 ft	160–500 ft
Saratoga	8,134	8,006	188 ft	44–480 ft
Ulster	6,527	6,463	267 ft	144–500 ft
Dutchess	4,929	4,889	340 ft	155–605 ft
Washington	3,963	3,906	360 ft	158–582 ft
Rensselaer	3,904	3,870	320 ft	142–502 ft
Columbia	3,801	3,775	345 ft	112–560 ft
Sullivan	3,637	3,611	305 ft	180–532 ft
Warren	3,376	3,288	320 ft	125–605 ft
Chautauqua	3,009	2,939	80 ft	40–148 ft
Cattaraugus	2,964	2,931	100 ft	36–175 ft
Oneida	2,938	2,903	100 ft	40–240 ft
St Lawrence	2,747	2,728	123 ft	63–263 ft
Tompkins	2,615	2,532	140 ft	55–260 ft
Steuben	2,439	2,420	120 ft	41–235 ft
Delaware	2,421	2,394	270 ft	125–500 ft
Erie	2,421	2,396	70 ft	34–124 ft
Jefferson	2,345	2,291	105 ft	51–220 ft
Allegany	2,303	2,285	109 ft	50–201 ft
Onondaga	2,229	2,205	160 ft	45–346 ft
Greene	2,224	2,141	296 ft	120–567 ft
Clinton	2,188	2,172	163 ft	75–399 ft
Madison	2,117	2,097	120 ft	40–298 ft
Oswego	1,980	1,942	75 ft	39–135 ft
Essex	1,938	1,925	345 ft	142–625 ft
Otsego	1,898	1,848	170 ft	78–316 ft
Tioga	1,883	1,869	120 ft	34–240 ft
Chenango	1,792	1,772	190 ft	95–302 ft
Broome	1,756	1,743	170 ft	100–320 ft
Franklin	1,753	1,731	175 ft	65–505 ft
Herkimer	1,717	1,700	168 ft	67–400 ft
Fulton	1,665	1,653	202 ft	75–440 ft
Cayuga	1,549	1,522	120 ft	50–280 ft
Albany	1,528	1,478	248 ft	36–502 ft
Wyoming	1,458	1,451	80 ft	36–140 ft
Ontario	1,436	1,421	100 ft	40–200 ft
Schoharie	1,268	1,238	240 ft	105–471 ft
Schuyler	1,254	1,204	100 ft	38–220 ft
Putnam	1,241	1,237	400 ft	205–705 ft
Cortland	1,192	1,177	161 ft	48–298 ft
Yates	1,150	1,142	112 ft	58–200 ft
Westchester	1,147	1,144	499 ft	250–800 ft
Livingston	1,120	1,109	105 ft	52–200 ft
Lewis	1,048	1,038	146 ft	61–320 ft
Chemung	1,027	1,016	130 ft	43–240 ft
Genesee	946	944	56 ft	32–102 ft
Montgomery	844	826	198 ft	75–440 ft
Hamilton	823	817	300 ft	120–483 ft
Seneca	727	707	100 ft	40–220 ft
Schenectady	645	641	250 ft	110–420 ft
Monroe	609	605	65 ft	33–158 ft
Wayne	563	562	80 ft	40–137 ft
Rockland	460	449	238 ft	145–500 ft
Orleans	226	226	45 ft	30–76 ft
Niagara	86	85	60 ft	29–126 ft
Bronx	13	13	505 ft	320–807 ft
Richmond	11	11	230 ft	53–1000 ft
New York	10	10	1030 ft	60–1141 ft