A plain-English guide to who's actually allowed to work on your well, and how often you should be testing your water.
📞 Call (479) 555-0129 for a Free Quote Licensed Arkansas well contractor • Upfront pricing • Rural service specialistsYes, Arkansas requires it. Anyone drilling a water well or installing a well pump in Arkansas must hold both an Arkansas Water Well Contractor's License and an Arkansas Certificate of Registration in water well drilling or pump installation, issued by the Arkansas Water Well Construction Commission (part of the Arkansas Department of Agriculture / Arkansas Natural Resources Commission). Licensed contractors must also carry a $20,000 bond that protects you if the work doesn't meet construction standards, and complete continuing education annually.
This is a different agency than the one that regulates septic systems (the Arkansas Department of Health handles septic; the Water Well Construction Commission handles wells) — worth knowing if you're dealing with both on a rural property.
The EPA recommends testing private well water annually for four things: total coliform bacteria, nitrates, total dissolved solids, and pH. Unlike city water, nobody is testing your well for you — it's entirely on the homeowner.
Test right away, not on the annual schedule, if:
Properties near agricultural land should also consider testing for pesticides in addition to the standard panel; properties near fuel storage should test for volatile organic compounds.
Compare that to the cost of an unexplained health issue traced back to well water months later, or discovering a contamination problem during a home sale. Annual testing is inexpensive insurance.
This page is general information based on Arkansas Water Well Construction Commission and EPA guidance, not a substitute for your specific situation — if you have questions about your well's history or compliance, we're happy to help you sort it out.
Call for a fast, free quote — no-water calls prioritized same-day, everything else usually within 48 hours.
📞 (479) 555-0129