How to Fill Out a Georgia EPD Groundwater Withdrawal Permit + FAQs

A Georgia EPD Groundwater Withdrawal Permit is the legal approval from the Georgia Environmental Protection Division that lets you pump more than 100,000 gallons of groundwater per day from a well, and almost no one can lawfully draw that much water without one. Anyone who plans to pump at or above that line, whether a farmer, a city, a factory, or a golf course, must apply before the first drop comes out of the ground.

This guide walks you through both groundwater tracks Georgia uses. Farmers file the Agricultural Withdrawal Application with the Tifton office, while cities, industries, and golf courses file Part A and Part B with the Atlanta groundwater unit. Georgia issued its agricultural permitting program under the Georgia Water Stewardship Act, and the state now manages tens of thousands of active withdrawal permits, with whole regions like the Lower Flint River Basin opening and closing to new applications based on water supply.

Here is what you will learn in this guide:

• 💧 What the groundwater permit is, who must file it, and the exact 100,000 gallon-per-day trigger that forces you to apply.
• 📋 The full list of documents, maps, and well data you must gather before you open the form.
• ✍️ A line-by-line walkthrough of every field on the Agricultural Application and on Part A and Part B.
• 🚜 Three real filled-out examples so you can see what correct entries look like.
• ⚠️ The most common mistakes that get applications returned, and how to avoid each one.

What the Form Is and Who Must File It

The Georgia EPD Groundwater Withdrawal Permit gives you the right to pump groundwater above 100,000 gallons per day on a monthly average. The SmartIrrigation Georgia program explains that the trigger is based on the capacity of your withdrawal point, so a well able to pump 100,000 gallons per day needs a permit even if you do not run it that hard every day. This rule comes from Georgia’s groundwater use statutes, and EPD enforces it through the Watershed Protection Branch.

Georgia splits groundwater permits into two programs, and the program you fall into decides which form you file. Farmers, livestock operations, fish producers, and irrigated turf for agriculture file the Agricultural Application, governed by O.C.G.A. §12-5-105, the farm-use section added under the Water Stewardship Act. Cities, counties, water authorities, factories, and golf courses file the Part A and Part B forms under O.C.G.A. §12-5-96, the general groundwater use law.

The agency that receives your form depends on your track. Agricultural filers send everything to EPD’s Agricultural Permitting Unit in Tifton, while municipal, industrial, and golf course filers work with the Municipal and Industrial Groundwater unit in Atlanta. The penalty for skipping the permit is severe: pumping above the threshold without a valid permit exposes you to enforcement orders, daily civil penalties, and an order to stop pumping, which can shut down a farm season or a city’s water supply.

A common misconception is that a small or “personal” well is exempt no matter what. That is wrong once the well crosses the 100,000 gallon-per-day capacity line, because the law looks at how much water the well can produce, not just how much you intend to use.

Before You Start: Documents and Information You Need

Gathering your information first is the single best way to avoid having your application returned. EPD states plainly on the Agricultural Application that it cannot process incomplete applications, so a missing map or coordinate can cost you weeks. Pull these items together before you write anything on the form.

• Property owner’s full legal name and mailing address. EPD mails your Letter of Concurrence and permit here, so an old address means your approval gets lost.
• Operator or manager details, if different from the owner. The form has a separate column for this, and leaving it blank when there is a separate operator creates confusion over who controls the withdrawal.
• County where the water source sits. EPD maps your withdrawal by county, and the wrong county sends your file to the wrong reviewer.
• Precise GPS coordinates of each well or pump. EPD enters these into its GIS system, and without them the application is returned for corrections.
• A marked map showing the well location and the acres to be irrigated. Missing maps are the top reason agricultural applications come back.
• Planned pumping capacity in gallons per minute. This number drives the entire hydrologic review and decides whether your request fits the aquifer.
• Well construction estimates: depth, casing depth, and casing diameter. These let EPD judge which aquifer you will tap.
• Existing permit numbers for any connected wells or pumps. Well-to-pond and multi-well systems must list every associated permit so EPD can tie them together.

Municipal, industrial, and golf course filers need extra items. You must have your system’s existing permit number if you are renewing, your service population or production figures, and a completed Water Conservation Plan matching your category. Cities must also attach a signed copy of their HB489 Service Delivery Strategy from the Georgia Department of Community Affairs, and leaving it out stalls the whole application.

Where to Get the Form and How to Access It

All groundwater withdrawal forms live on EPD’s Water Withdrawal Permitting Forms page. The page is sorted by program, so scroll to the heading that matches your use before you download anything. Picking the wrong section is the first mistake many filers make.

Farmers download the Agricultural Withdrawal Application, listed as Form EPD-APU, Revised 08.06.2018. Check that revision date in the bottom-left corner of the PDF before you fill it out, because EPD updates forms and an old version can be rejected. The same agricultural section holds the Well Completion Data Form, the Well Pump Information Form, and the Flow Meter Approval Form you will need later.

Municipal, industrial, and golf course filers download two MS Word forms: the Part A Application – General System Information, Revised August 2025, and the Part B Application – Well Data, Revised Aug 2008. Every groundwater applicant in this track must complete both Part A and Part B, then add the Water Conservation Plan that fits the category. Municipal filers add the Municipal Water Conservation Plan, industrial filers add the Industrial Water Conservation Plan, and golf courses add the Golf Course Water Conservation Plan.

If you cannot find or open a form, call the right unit. Agricultural filers reach Edward Rooks at 229-391-2400, and municipal, industrial, and golf course filers reach Bill Frechette at 470-524-0567. Calling first saves time, because staff can tell you which version is current and whether your region is open to new permits.

Step-by-Step: How to Fill Out the Agricultural Withdrawal Application Line by Line

This section is the heart of the guide. The Agricultural Application is titled “Application for a Letter of Concurrence to Install an Agricultural Water Withdrawal System,” and you fill it out before you drill. Work through it field by field in the order it appears on the form.

Field 1: “Does this project require any other permits from EPD?”

This field asks whether your project needs any other EPD permit besides the water withdrawal permit. Answer by checking yes or no, and if yes, write the names of the other permits on the line provided. For example, Carlos Mendez checks “No” because his row-crop irrigation well needs no other EPD permit. A common edge case is a project near a stream that also needs a buffer variance, in which case you write that permit name here. The common mistake is leaving this blank, which makes EPD pause your review to ask what you meant. Many filers wrongly believe this field is optional; it is not, because EPD uses it to coordinate reviews across divisions.

Field 2: “The water source is in _____ County”

This field asks for the county where your well or pump will sit, not where you live. Write the full county name in plain text, such as Mitchell. If your land spans two counties, enter the county where the actual withdrawal point sits, not the larger parcel. The common mistake is entering your mailing county when the well is across a county line, which routes your file to the wrong reviewer and delays mapping. People often think the county is a formality; in fact it controls which regional water rules and restrictions apply to you.

Field 3: Property Owner Information

This section asks for the legal owner of the land where the water source sits. Enter the Farm or Corp Name, then the owner’s name in First, MI, Last, Suffix order, followed by mailing address, city, state, ZIP, home and mobile phone, and email. For example, Carlos Mendez writes “Mendez Family Farms LLC,” then “Carlos R. Mendez,” then his Camilla, GA mailing address. If the land is owned by an LLC or trust, put the entity in the Farm/Corp line and a responsible person’s name below it. The common mistake is using a nickname instead of the legal name, which can cause the permit to mismatch the deed. Filers often assume the owner and operator are always the same person; when they are not, you must use the next column.

Field 4: Operator/Manager Information

This field asks for the person who runs the farm if that person is different from the owner. Fill in the same set of details, Farm/Corp Name, name, address, phones, and email, for the operator. For example, Carlos leases part of his land to operator Dana Pruitt, so Dana’s details go here. If the owner farms the land themselves, you may leave this column blank. The common mistake is leaving it blank when a tenant actually runs the operation, which leaves EPD unsure who is responsible for meter reports. A misconception is that only the owner matters; EPD needs the operator because the operator handles day-to-day pumping and reporting.

Field 5: Type of Water Source

This field asks how you will draw the water. Check one box: Well only, Surface Water only, Well and Surface Water Pump System, or Other Combination with a written explanation. For example, Carlos checks “Well only” because his system is a single irrigation well. If your system pumps from a well into a pond and then to the field, check “Well and Surface Water Pump System.” The common mistake is checking “Well only” when a pond is also part of the supply, which understates your system and can void the permit later. Filers often think a well that fills a pond is “well only”; once the pond feeds irrigation, it is a combined system.

Field 6: Purpose(s) of Water Use

This field asks what you will use the water for. Check every box that applies: Irrigation of row crops and similar, Golf Course or Athletic Field irrigation, Livestock or Poultry Watering, Commercial Fish Production, or Other agricultural use with a written description. For example, Carlos checks “Irrigation (row crops)” for his peanuts and cotton. If you both irrigate and water livestock, check both boxes. The common mistake is checking only one use when you have several, which can leave a real use unpermitted. People wrongly believe checking extra boxes hurts them; listing all true uses protects you, because using water for an unlisted purpose can violate the permit.

Field 7: Irrigation System Section

This field captures the details of your irrigation setup. Enter the Planned Date of Irrigation System Installation, the Name of Field, the irrigation type (Center Pivot/Linear Move, Traveler, Solid Set Sprinkler, Drip, or Other), the Maximum number of acres irrigated from this source in any one year, and whether you will inject chemicals or fertilizers. For example, Carlos writes “06/01/2026,” names the field “North 80,” checks “Center Pivot,” and enters “78 acres.” You must attach a map with the acres outlined, even here. The common mistake is overstating acres “to be safe,” which can trigger a larger and slower hydrologic review. Filers think the acreage is just an estimate; EPD treats it as a cap, so list the real maximum you expect to irrigate.

Field 8: Well Information (Planned Pumping Capacity and Well Construction)

This field collects the engineering details of your well. Enter the Planned Pumping Capacity in gal/min, the Planned Date of Pump/Well Installation, the Well Depth in feet, the Depth of Well Casing in feet, and the Well Casing Diameter in inches. For example, Carlos enters “950 gal/min,” a depth of “420 feet,” casing of “380 feet,” and a “10 inch” diameter. If you do not yet know the exact depth, give your driller’s best estimate and note it as planned. The common mistake is guessing the pumping capacity far too high, because that drives the entire aquifer-impact review and can get your request denied. People assume these numbers are fixed forever; they are planning estimates, and your final permit reflects the well your licensed driller actually completes.

Field 9: GPS Coordinates and Designated Well Name

This field pins your well to an exact spot on the map. Enter the Latitude and Longitude in degrees-minutes-seconds or decimal degrees, then give the well a Designated Well Name such as “Well #1” or “Home Place Well.” For example, Carlos records “31.2336 N, 84.2107 W” and names it “North 80 Well.” EPD instructs you to record every digit your GPS shows so the location is accurate within about a hundred feet. The common mistake is reversing latitude and longitude or dropping digits, which places your well in the wrong field and forces EPD to return the form. Filers think a rough location is fine; EPD enters these exact coordinates into its GIS, so precision is required. For multiple wells working as one system, copy this section and submit a separate set for each well.

Field 10: Surface Water Section (If Applicable)

This field applies only if surface water is part of your supply. Enter the Planned Pumping Capacity in gal/min, the Planned Date of Pump Installation, and check the Surface Water Source type: a stream, creek, river, or connected canal; a shared pond not entirely on your property; or a pond lying entirely on your property. For example, Dana Pruitt checks “Pond entirely on your property” and names it “Mill Pond.” You must also indicate how the pond is filled, such as perennial stream, rainfall runoff, springs, or pumped water. The common mistake is leaving the “how the pond is filled” boxes blank, which stalls the review of your water source. Filers think a private pond needs no detail; EPD still needs to know the pond’s water source to judge downstream impact.

Field 11: Multiple Well or Pump System Section

This field handles complex systems with more than one well or pump. Answer whether existing wells or surface pumps already feed your pond, how many there are, whether they are permitted, and list their permit numbers. For example, Carlos answers “Yes, 1 existing well, permitted, A-095-1234” for the well that already fills his pond. If any connected well or pump is unpermitted, EPD instructs you to file additional applications for them right away. The common mistake is hiding an existing unpermitted well, which can void your new permit and trigger enforcement. People believe each well needs a fully separate permit; in fact, interconnected wells and pumps can be permitted together under a single agricultural permit with one set of conditions.

Field 12: Application Maps and Withdrawal Locations

This field requires location maps for every proposed well and pump. Attach GPS coordinates or a marked high-resolution map, such as a Google Maps hybrid view, a USGS topographic map, or an FSA map, with your withdrawal point and irrigated acres clearly marked. For example, Carlos prints a Google hybrid map, circles his well and the North 80 field, and staples it to the application. Be sure the map shows enough landmarks to find the spot within the county. The common mistake is sending a map with no labels or no county-level context, which EPD cannot use and will return. Filers assume coordinates alone are always enough; EPD wants both the coordinates and a marked map so reviewers can confirm the location visually.

Field 13: Signature and Certification

This final field is your sworn certification that the information is true. Sign on the Signature of Applicant line, write the date, and print or type your name below. For example, Carlos signs, dates it “06/01/2026,” and prints “Carlos R. Mendez.” The certification states the permit may be revoked for falsification, so every entry above must be accurate. The common mistake is mailing an unsigned application, which is treated as incomplete and returned without review. People think a typed name alone counts as a signature; EPD wants an actual signature plus the printed name, so provide both.

How to Fill Out Part A and Part B (Municipal, Industrial, and Golf Course)

Cities, factories, and golf courses use a different process. Every applicant in this track must complete both the Part A Application – General System Information, Revised August 2025, and the Part B Application – Well Data, Revised Aug 2008, available on the forms page.

Part A: General System Information

Part A captures who you are and how your whole system works. Enter the legal name of the applicant entity, such as a city, county, authority, company, or golf course, the system’s mailing address, the responsible contact person, and the total requested withdrawal in million gallons per day. For example, the City of Ashford enters “City of Ashford,” its public works director as contact, and a requested “1.20 MGD.” If you are renewing an existing permit, enter the current permit number so EPD links the files. The common mistake is requesting a round number far above real need, which slows the review and invites tighter conditions. Filers think Part A is just a cover sheet; EPD uses it to size the entire system, so the requested volume must match your real demand.

Part B: Well Data

Part B describes each individual well in detail. For every well, enter the well name or number, GPS latitude and longitude, total depth, casing depth and diameter, the aquifer or source formation, and the pump capacity in gallons per minute. For example, Northgate Manufacturing lists “Plant Well #2,” its coordinates, a depth of “610 feet,” and the “Floridan aquifer.” Complete a separate Part B set for each well in your system. The common mistake is naming the wrong aquifer, which skews the impact analysis and can lead to a denial or a much smaller allocation. People assume one Part B covers a multi-well plant; each well needs its own Part B so EPD can evaluate them one at a time.

The Required Water Conservation Plan

Beyond Part A and Part B, this track must attach a Water Conservation Plan that matches the category. Municipal filers complete the Municipal Water Conservation Plan and the Municipal Water System Profile, industrial filers complete the Industrial Water Conservation Plan, and golf courses complete the Golf Course Water Conservation Plan and profile. For example, the City of Ashford fills out its Municipal Water Conservation Plan and attaches its signed HB489 Service Delivery Strategy. The common mistake is submitting Part A and Part B with no conservation plan, which makes the application incomplete. Filers think the conservation plan is optional paperwork; EPD will not issue the permit without it, because state law ties groundwater use to a conservation commitment.

Three Filled-Out Examples Using Real Scenarios

These three walkthroughs show how different filers complete their forms from start to finish.

Scenario 1: Carlos Mendez, a row-crop farmer adding a center-pivot irrigation well in Mitchell County.

Form Section	What Carlos Enters
Other EPD permits	No
Water source county	Mitchell
Property owner	Mendez Family Farms LLC, Carlos R. Mendez
Type of water source	Well only
Purpose of use	Irrigation (row crops)
Irrigation system	Center Pivot, 78 acres, field “North 80”
Pumping capacity	950 gal/min
GPS coordinates	31.2336 N, 84.2107 W
Designated well name	North 80 Well
Signature and date	Carlos R. Mendez, 06/01/2026

Scenario 2: City of Ashford, a small municipality renewing and expanding its public water supply.

Form Section	What the City Enters
Applicant name (Part A)	City of Ashford
Existing permit number	Yes, renewal of current permit
Requested withdrawal	1.20 MGD
Contact person	Public Works Director
Well name (Part B)	City Well #3
Aquifer/source	Claiborne aquifer
Pump capacity	600 gal/min
Conservation plan	Municipal Water Conservation Plan attached
HB489 strategy	Signed copy attached
Signature	Authorized city official

Scenario 3: Northgate Manufacturing, an industrial plant permitting a process-water well.

Form Section	What Northgate Enters
Applicant name (Part A)	Northgate Manufacturing Inc.
Requested withdrawal	0.45 MGD
Purpose	Industrial process water
Well name (Part B)	Plant Well #2
GPS coordinates	Exact lat/long recorded
Total depth	610 feet
Aquifer/source	Floridan aquifer
Pump capacity	400 gal/min
Conservation plan	Industrial Water Conservation Plan attached
Signature	Plant environmental manager

How to File the Completed Form

Where and how you file depends entirely on your track, so use the channel that matches your form.

Agricultural filers (by mail or in person). Mail your completed Agricultural Application and all maps to the GA EPD Agricultural Permitting Unit, 531 Main Street, Suite D, Tifton, GA 31794-4898. You may also bring it to the Tifton office, open Monday through Friday from 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. There is no application fee for the agricultural permit itself, and EPD states that faxed applications are no longer accepted. Keep a copy of everything you mail and use certified mail so you have proof of the filing date, because applications are reviewed in the order they are received.

Municipal, industrial, and golf course filers (groundwater unit). Submit your completed Part A, Part B, and Water Conservation Plan to the Municipal and Industrial Groundwater unit, and contact Bill Frechette at 470-524-0567 to confirm the current submission method and any portal access before you send. Include every required attachment in one package, since a missing conservation plan or HB489 strategy makes the filing incomplete. Keep a dated copy of the full submission as your proof of filing.

For both tracks, processing time depends on the geologic and hydrologic review and on whether your region is open to new permits. Some basins, like parts of the Flint River Basin, have suspension areas and special application forms, so confirm your area’s status before you file.

What Happens After You File

After EPD receives your agricultural application, the Tifton unit sends a confirmation letter saying your application is complete or asks for missing information. EPD cannot process incomplete applications, so a confirmation letter is your signal that the review clock has started. Your location is mapped into the GIS, and the file is given a geologic and hydrologic evaluation in date order.

If no conflicts are found, EPD issues a Letter of Concurrence to install your withdrawal system, valid for one year. This is your permission to finance, design, and install the well or pump, and only then may you hire a licensed water well contractor to drill. You must notify EPD by the expiration date if you decide not to install the source you requested, or you risk losing your place in line.

Once the well is built, your Georgia-licensed water well contractor completes the Well Completion Data Form and Log, and you forward all required paperwork, including the Flow Meter Approval Form, the Well Completion Form and Log, and any conservation or low-flow plans EPD requested. After EPD reviews and approves these, it recommends that the Director issue your Permit to Withdraw Water. Until that permit is issued, you cannot use more than 100,000 gallons per day on a monthly average. Municipal and industrial permit holders then file the Monthly Groundwater Use Reporting Form, Version 3, Revised August 2025, to track ongoing use.

Mistakes to Avoid When Filling Out the Form

Each error below has cost real filers time, and most lead to a returned application.

• Sending the application without the required map, which makes EPD return it as incomplete before any review starts.
• Reversing or shortening the GPS coordinates, which places your well in the wrong location and forces a correction.
• Entering your mailing county instead of the well’s county, which routes your file to the wrong reviewer.
• Using a nickname instead of the legal owner name, which causes the permit to mismatch the property deed.
• Checking “Well only” when a pond is also part of the system, which understates your withdrawal and can void the permit.
• Overstating irrigated acreage “to be safe,” which triggers a larger, slower hydrologic review.
• Guessing a pumping capacity far above real need, which can lead to denial or a reduced allocation.
• Hiding an existing unpermitted well on a well-to-pond system, which can void the new permit and bring enforcement.
• Naming the wrong aquifer on Part B, which skews the impact analysis and the allocation you receive.
• Mailing an unsigned application, which is treated as incomplete and returned without review.
• Forgetting the Water Conservation Plan on a municipal, industrial, or golf course filing, which blocks issuance.
• Leaving out the signed HB489 Service Delivery Strategy on a municipal filing, which stalls the entire application.

Do’s and Don’ts

Do:

• Do confirm your form’s revision date before filling it out, because EPD can reject outdated versions.
• Do record every digit of your GPS coordinates, because EPD needs accuracy within about a hundred feet.
• Do attach a clearly marked map with landmarks, because reviewers confirm your location visually.
• Do list every water use that applies, because using water for an unlisted purpose violates the permit.
• Do keep a dated, certified copy of your filing, because reviews run in the order received.
• Do call your unit before filing, because staff can confirm whether your region is open to new permits.

Don’t:

• Don’t pump above 100,000 gallons per day before the permit is issued, because that triggers penalties.
• Don’t guess your pumping capacity high, because it drives the whole aquifer review.
• Don’t leave the operator column blank when a tenant runs the farm, because EPD needs the responsible party.
• Don’t hide a connected unpermitted well, because it can void your new permit.
• Don’t skip the conservation plan, because EPD will not issue the permit without it.
• Don’t fax your agricultural application, because EPD no longer accepts faxed forms.

Pros and Cons of Filing on Your Own vs. With Professional Help

Many filers can complete these forms alone, but complex systems often benefit from help.

Pros of filing on your own:

• You save consultant fees, because the agricultural application has no filing fee and is built for self-filers.
• You control your own timeline, because you can submit the moment your data is ready.
• EPD’s Tifton staff will walk you through questions by phone, so free help is built in.
• You learn your own system in detail, which helps with future meter reports.
• For a single, simple well, the form is short enough to finish in one sitting.

Cons of filing on your own:

• A wrong aquifer or capacity number can lead to denial, and you may not catch it.
• Complex well-to-pond systems require linking multiple permits, which is easy to get wrong.
• Municipal and industrial conservation plans are technical and time-consuming to draft.
• A returned application can cost weeks, since reviews run in date order.
• You bear the full risk of an enforcement penalty if you misjudge the threshold.

FAQs

Do I need a permit if my well can pump 100,000 gallons a day but I rarely use that much?

Yes. Georgia bases the trigger on the well’s capacity, so a well able to pump 100,000 gallons per day needs a permit even if you seldom run it that hard.

Can I start drilling as soon as I mail the application?

No. You must wait for EPD’s Letter of Concurrence before you hire a driller, because that letter is your permission to install the system.

Do I write my county of residence or the well’s county in the county field?

No. Write the county where the water source actually sits, not where you live, because EPD maps and reviews your withdrawal by the well’s county.

Should I check “Well only” if my well fills a pond that feeds my irrigation?

No. Check the combined “Well and Surface Water Pump System” box, because once the pond feeds irrigation it is a combined system, not well only.

Do I list the property owner or the operator in the first column?

Yes, list the legal property owner first, and use the separate operator column only when a different person runs the farm day to day.

Can multiple wells be permitted under one agricultural permit?

Yes. Interconnected wells and pumps in a well-to-pond or complex system can be permitted together under a single agricultural permit with one set of conditions.

Is there a fee to file the agricultural withdrawal application?

No. EPD does not charge a fee for the agricultural application itself, though you pay for your own well drilling, metering, and installation costs.

Can I fax my completed agricultural application to Tifton?

No. EPD no longer accepts faxed applications, so you must mail your form and maps or deliver them in person to the Tifton office.

Do municipal and industrial filers really need both Part A and Part B?

Yes. Every groundwater applicant in that track must complete both Part A for system information and Part B for well data before EPD will review the request.

Will EPD process my application if I leave out the map?

No. A missing map makes the application incomplete, and EPD returns it for corrections before any geologic or hydrologic review begins.

Can a city skip the Water Conservation Plan to file faster?

No. Municipal filers must attach the Municipal Water Conservation Plan and a signed HB489 Service Delivery Strategy, or the application is incomplete.

Is my agricultural Letter of Concurrence good forever?

No. It is valid for one year, during which you must install the system and return the required completion forms, or notify EPD if you do not install it.

Do I report my water use after I get the permit?

Yes. Municipal and industrial permit holders file the Monthly Groundwater Use Reporting Form, and agricultural users meter their withdrawals as required by their permit conditions.