Frequently Asked Questions

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In 2007, the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) issued a report designating thirteen counties in North Texas as a Priority Groundwater Management Area and recommended the formation of at least one groundwater conservation district. This recommendation was later contested by water providers and subsequently reviewed by the State Office of Administrative Hearings. After consideration, the Administrative Law Judge ruled that the creation of a groundwater conservation district was necessary.

As a result, the Red River Groundwater Conservation District (Red River GCD) was established in 2009 through Senate Bill 2529 (SB2529). The District was granted regulatory authority over groundwater resources in Fannin and Grayson Counties.

A mechanically driven, magnetic, or ultrasonic totalizing water meter is the only type of meter permitted for installation on wells registered with the District, unless an alternative reliable meter or measuring method is formally applied for and approved by the District.

The totalizer must be non-resettable by the registrant and capable of recording a maximum reading that exceeds the expected annual pumpage. Battery-operated registers must have a minimum life expectancy of five years and be permanently hermetically sealed. Additionally, battery-operated registers must clearly display the battery expiration date.

All meters must comply with the registration accuracy standards established by the American Water Works Association (AWWA) for cold-water meters. Furthermore, new meters must be capable of measuring the instantaneous flow rate of groundwater produced from the well.

Exempt wells are wells that are not subject to permitting, metering, production reporting, or production fee requirements. The determination of whether a well is exempt depends on the date it was drilled:

Wells drilled before January 1, 2019:

• A well is exempt if it is used for domestic or livestock purposes, regardless of its production capacity.
• A well is also exempt if it is not capable of producing more than 27.7 gallons per minute (GPM) for other uses.

Wells drilled on or after January 1, 2019:

• A well is exempt if it is not capable of producing more than 17.36 GPM, regardless of its use or tract size.

If you are unsure whether your well qualifies as exempt, please contact the District staff for assistance. We are available to help determine your well’s status and ensure compliance with District regulations.

A non-exempt well is any well that does not meet the exemption criteria and is therefore subject to permitting, metering, production reporting, and production fee requirements as established by the District. These wells must comply with all applicable regulations to ensure proper management and conservation of groundwater resources.

A Historic Use Permit is a permit required by the District for a non-exempt well or well system that produced water during the Historic Use Period and that has not been abandoned.

The Historic Use Period is from January 1, 2013 through December 31, 2018, in which water produced from a well or well system was put to beneficial use at any point during the duration of the period.

A Production Permit is a permit required by the District for a new, non-exempt well or additional production in addition to Historic Use Permits.

 A Hydrogeological Report is a report required for new wells or well systems with a proposed aggregate production capacity of 200 gallons per minute or more. The Hydrogeological Report must meet all of the requirements outlined in the District’s Hydrogeological Report Requirements. 

Information on wells can be obtained from your well driller or from the documentation from the sale of the property. You can also find information from the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation (https://www.tdlr.texas.gov/), the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (https://www.tceq.texas.gov/), or the Texas Water Development Board (https://www.twdb.texas.gov/).

Agricultural wells must be metered and the groundwater usage must be reported to the District monthly. However, Agricultural wells are not charged a production fee.

Non-exempt well owners are required to install meters on each well and report the amount of groundwater pumped each month to the District. Non-exempt wells, with the exception of agricultural wells, are be required to pay a production fee in accordance with the District Fee Schedule.

Non-exempt wells are required to report monthly meter readings on a quarterly basis. Production fees must be submitted within 60 days of the last day of each quarter to remain in compliance with District regulations.