Please note: We have recently upgraded our software. If you cannot see your list of permits after logging in, you will need to clear your browsing history or use a different browser (Edge, Chrome, FireFox) and log in again. The new permitting portal system supports Google Chrome, Firefox, and Microsoft Edge. Internet Explorer is no longer a supported browser. The system is not designed for mobile iOS or Android platforms.
Before You Start
In order for your well history to appear in the Portal, your email login must match the email already associated with your permit. If your permit information does not pre-populate after you create an account, please fill out the Update Email Form by logging into the Portal, selecting “Create Application” and then clicking “Update Email Form”:
You will need to provide your name, your company, your well number(s), and the email that you would like to be associated with your permit. District staff will review the request to determine if the email can be added to the permit. You will receive a response typically within 2 business days regarding the status of your request.
For questions, please email info@subsidence.org with your name, well number, and phone number.
Additional Information
In order to access the permitting portal, you must have a working email address.
For new permittees or well drillers, we recommend that the email used for this account be accessible in the long-term.
For current permittees, we recommend that you use an email that has previously been linked to your permit. If you are not sure what email is currently associated with your permit, you can look on your most recent well renewal form. If you need to update the address associated with your account, see the “Before You Start” section above.
All permit holders are required to submit their annual (January-December of the previous year) groundwater use by January 31st each year. There is NO FEE required to submit your annual report. Please visit our Annual Pumpage Report webpage for additional information.
Guideline for Annual Report Estimations:
- Single Family Residence: 100,000 gallons
- Mobile Homes: 60,000 – 75,000 gallons
- Businesses: 10 gallons per person X days of the year worked plus any water usage for business needs
- Churches: 2 gallons per person X number of services in the year
- Livestock
- Hogs, Equine: 10 gallons per head per day
- Sheep, Goats: 2 gallons per head per day
- Cattle (Feed): 15 gallons per head per day
- Cattle (Dairy): 75 gallons per head per day
- Birds (Chickens, Turkeys, etc.): 0.2 gallons per head per day
If you are estimating, you only have to include the total for the year, not each month.
Aggregate Wells – Complete the Annual Report Pumpage Spreadsheet for all wells that have been permitted for aggregate withdrawal. Please note that wells that have not been drilled or wells not in use must still be reported with zero usage. Instructions on how to complete the spreadsheet are provided on the first tab of the spreadsheet. Once you have completed the spreadsheet, please submit by email here.
All wells must be registered prior to drilling.
Well drillers can create their own accounts and still submit on behalf of well owners. If the well requires a permit, the permittee must apply for a permit before submitting the Well Registration application. A well owner, well operator, or water well driller cannot drill any well without the approved registration form filed with the District.
We recommend the email used for this account to be accessible in the long-term.
Use this application for new wells, previously permitted wells, and original application of an existing well.
Learn how to submit your well permit application online by watching this video.
Application for Emergency Permit – If you would like to expedite the permit process, you may file an application for Emergency Permit.
You will need to complete the following fields in the well permit on the Permitting Portal:
Send an application fee of $500.00 for Emergency applications for each well within seven (7) days to the District address.
To renew your well permit, please return to the portal home page to find your expiring permit and Choose ‘Actions’ > ‘Renew.’ You must log in using the email address associated with last year’s well application to view the permit to renew. If you are not sure what email is currently associated with your permit, you can look on your most recent well renewal form. If you need to update the address associated with your account, please email info@subsidence.org and our team will assist you.
Learn how to submit your well permit renewal online by watching this video.
Note – If you do not see your permit, check that the email address you are using is the same one associated with your well number.
Increase or Decrease in Groundwater Allocation
Increase: You require more water than the amount for which you initially applied. Must submit the application before you exceed your permitted allocation or the permit expires.
Decrease: You do not require the amount of water for which you initially applied.
User Guide – Increase/Decrease Permit Amendments
Transfer of Ownership: Use this form if you recent purchased a property that includes the well in question.
Meter Card Reporting: Used for reporting meter readings as required by the District. User Guide – Meter Card
Meter Calibration: Used for when a meter is recalibrated. User Guide – Meter Calibration
Test is required:
- Meter Diameter is less than 6 inches – Every 3 years
- Meter Diameter is 6 inches or greater – Every year
- PD (Positive Displacement) Type meters, all sizes – As required.
Meter Testing Companies
This is an alphabetical listing of companies that perform meter calibrations and make adjustments as necessary using approved methods, and have submitted compliance information to the District.
***THIS LISTING DOES NOT CONSTITUTE A PRIORITY RECOMMENDATION***
Absolute Meter Service
P. O. Box 752662
Houston, Texas 77275-2662
Phone: 281-481-2304
Cell: 281-844-1367
Fax: 281-464-2758
Email: absolutemeter@sbcglobal.net
Accurate Meter & Backflow, LLC
1402 Vander Wilt Ln
Katy, Texas 77449
Phone: 281-391-8100
Fax: 281-391-8110
Email: sara@accuratemeter.com
Endress+Hauser Inc.
10057 Porter Road, Suite 100
La Porte, Texas 77571
Phone: 317-535-1350
Fluid Meter Service Corp.
10321 Monroe
Houston, Texas 77075
Phone: 713-991-5279
Fax: 713-991-4744
Email: contact@fluidmetertx.com
G-M Services
P.O. Box 690309
Houston, Texas 77269
Phone: 281-894-8971
Fax: 713-644-8034
Email: gary@g-mservices.com
Precision Calibrate
4244 Bee Cave Road
Spicewood, Texas 78669
Phone: 512-785-9944
Email: Noffy3@yahoo.com
Southern Flowmeter, Inc.
11152 Westheimer Rd #890
Houston, Texas 77042
Phone: 281-997-5544
Fax: 281-946-5045
Email: service@southernmeter.com
Groundwater credits earned through the award-winning water conservation program can be used to offset the Subsidence District’s regulatory requirements. For every sponsorship in the program, the District will issue 84,000 gallons of groundwater credit.
Sponsorship for Groundwater Credits – User Guide
The Applications for Groundwater Certificate Replacement and Acknowledgement of District Regulatory Requirements require special handling and must be downloaded, completed, and mailed to the district office.
For more information about rebates, view the Harris-Galveston Subsidence District Rules for more information.
Permit Fee Rebate: Use this form to receive a rebate of your Permit Fee for an unused portion of your allocation after your permit term has ended. The District will not consider rebates of less than $100.
Groundwater Credit Rebate: Use this form to receive a rebate of your Permit Fee for an unused portion of your allocation after your permit term has ended.
Over-Conversion Credit: To be used after your permit term has expired, only for permittees in Regulatory Area 3 who exceed the District’s groundwater reduction requirements.
Disincentive Fee Rebate: The form and fee must be received within ninety (90) calendar days after the termination date of the permit(s) to be considered for a rebate.
Good news! You no longer need to submit a request to view wells within the District.
Click here to view a interactive map that shows all water wells with a District permit.
Permitting FAQ’s
Your application must be verified by a staff member before the correct fee is applied to your account. Staff will review your application within 2-5 business days and then the appropriate fee will appear in the Pay Fees section.
If you’ve already started your renewal application, you do not need to submit your application again through the new permitting portal. However, if you would like to view the status of your application and next steps, create an account using the email address associated with your application.Â
Mailed applications or applications submitted in-person will still be accepted. Â
All permit, rebate, and groundwater credits forms are now available in the Portal. While the new forms look different, no new information is required. Step-by-step user guides are provided at the bottom of the page for assistance navigating the forms.
After May 17, 2021, well registration and all well permits applications will need to be submitted through the Portal. The rest of the HGSD forms are still available on the Forms page and will be migrated to the new system later this summer.
All current and new permit holders will be able to create an account on May 17, 2021. Current permit holders will need to use the email address associated with their well number to create an account.
If you are not the current permittee or well owner, we will require permission (in the form of a letter or email) from the existing permittee or owner before you can be added to the account. That information can be provided during the process of renewing your permit.
The Subsidence District is switching to a new system that will make applying for and renewing a new permit seamless. With all forms consolidated in one place, permit holders can submit forms, make payments online and check the status of applications.
The permit process itself will not change. For an overview of the permitting process, click here.
It is possible to purchase credits on the open market. The District maintains a list of organizations/individuals who have notified the District of their willingness to sell their credits to a third party. The District does not participate in the resale of credits. Please contact the District at 281-486-1105 or info@subsidence.org if you would like more information on credit transfer and purchase.
If you are unable to meet the required conversion to alternative water, then you may be subject to a disincentive fee. See our schedule of fees for the current disincentive fee rate.
Yes, as long as the groundwater credits are valid and have not expired, they can be combined.
Valid Series A groundwater credits may be used until expired.
Although the District no longer issues Series A groundwater credits, there are entities that are willing to sell their A groundwater credits, please contact the District if you would like information on those entities that have notified the District that they are willing to sell their A credits.
No, currently each sponsorship (which includes one student in the school program and all of the other aspects of the program) issues 84,000 in Series B groundwater credit which can be used for up to 30% of the permittees total water demand and expires 20 years from issue date.
Yes, historically the District has issued Series A credits which could be used for 100% of a permittee total water demand and expired 40 years from the date of issue. After an evaluation of the credits potential impact on the District’s mission to prevent future subsidence in 2001, the District discontinued issuing Series A groundwater credits and replaced them with the Series B groundwater credits.
Approximately four months prior to the expiration of your permit, the District will mail you a permit renewal application form. This form must be filled out and returned to the District along with the $60.00 renewal application fee. Renewal applications can also be completed online, but the application will not be processed until the $60.00 application fee is received.
The renewal application form will require you to enter the amount of groundwater you pumped from your well during the previous 12-month period and the amount of water you purchased from other sources. If you have access to alternative sources of water, you will be required to submit copies of water bills to verify the amount of water purchased from other sources.
The District is required to consider many different factors when establishing the groundwater allocation for each permittee. Some considerations include the following:
- The amount of groundwater requested by applicant
- Location of the groundwater well
- Availability of alternative water supply
- Participation in a groundwater reduction plan
- Use of groundwater credits to offset groundwater pumpage
Each situation is unique. Please contact the District permitting staff if you have further questions.
Most water wells in Harris and Galveston counties have been required to be permitted since 1976. After the 1993 legislative session, changes were adopted regarding which wells must be permitted by the District, resulting in an increase in the number of wells subject to permitting. In an effort to notify well owners of the changes in the permitting requirements, the District published notices in the newspaper, posted notices at the county courthouses, and held a public hearing to receive public comment. Despite these public outreach efforts, unpermitted wells are still periodically discovered by District staff during routine inspections throughout the District.
If a well serves anything other than one house, a permit is required. However, a permit may be required for a well that serves a house depending on the following:
- What diameter is the well
- Where it is located
- When was it drilled
There are some other minor exceptions that are spelled out in the Rules. Regardless of whether a well needs a permit, or not, the well is still required to be registered with the District before the well can be drilled.