Geothermal Wells and Closed-Loop Geothermal Permits

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Iowa requires that a water well construction permit be issued for all ground-source heat exchange loop boreholes installations (also known as GHEX or geothermal loop systems) before any construction takes place. These systems are commonly used for comfort heating and cooling for homes, businesses, and governmental buildings.  In addition, the law requires that at least one Iowa DNR certified well driller be on-site and in direct charge at all times well services are taking place.  Additional general information can be found at: www.iowadnr.gov/geothermalwells. Code Citation 455B.172, 455B.187, 455B.190A, 567 IAC Chapter 49 Who Applies The application for private well construction can be completed and submitted by the property owner or an agent for the property owner. In Iowa, all counties (except Osceola) have been delegated the permitting and regulatory authority for private well construction (including geothermal). All applications must be submitted directly to the county in which the system is proposed. When To Apply As soon as you begin planning for future installation of a GHEX system for any structure – residential/home or commercial. Application Review Process The application needs to be reviewed and approved by the permitting authority, prior to any drilling and well/GHEX construction. If a proposed location is in near proximity to historical contamination, then an environmental review must be performed by the DNR as part of the “Well near Contaminated Sites” procedure. This full review may take up to 8 weeks. Please note that commercial systems that contain many boreholes require a Phase 1 type pre-drilling site audit to determine that drilling area is subject to any environmental covenants or contaminated sites. In addition, some local county governments may have longer waiting periods before a permit can be issued. Initial Requirements Each county has their own form, but some use the Generic State Well Construction Application (DNR Form 542-0988). Please contact the county to get the correct application form and application fee. Submit the completed application and fees to your local county environmental health office. A list of these offices can be found at the following link: https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/e/2PACX-1vSN9_vM3stj69X3-4qojMfxrkIGuP4dkCfZYo1DI9g8FSyJrs4SbfRYuDRPulMxStPClHPxdB1io1GR/pubhtml. A permit to construct a test borehole cannot be used to construct the production loop field. Additional permitting is required. Contractors must be certified by the Iowa DNR to legally perform all well and geothermal borehole drilling services. In addition, the certified driller must be on-site and in direct control of the drilling services during all construction. Please note that not all sites will be able to support geothermal boreholes/wells due to potential issues with local site or groundwater contamination. Start the permitting process early to minimize permitting delays. Duration A construction permit for heat exchange loops or pump and reinjection wells is valid for a period of one year from the date the permit is issued. Processing Time A minimum of several days, but others may take several months if the site is near historical contamination or if there are other factors that could pose a threat to the environment or human health. Fee Structure Construction permitting fees include a local county permit fee set by the county the borehole construction will take place in.  As of 2024, that fees ranges from $100-$350 depending on the county. The county fee includes $25 state well tracking system permit fee that is paid to the Iowa DNR for the purposes of database maintenance and technical support from the DNR. Please contact your local county well permitting authority for additional information. County Sanitarian Contact List: https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/e/2PACX-1vSN9_vM3stj69X3-4qojMfxrkIGuP4dkCfZYo1DI9g8FSyJrs4SbfRYuDRPulMxStPClHPxdB1io1GR/pubhtml Renewal Requirements Does not pertain. Exam Does not pertain. Additional Information See general website at www.iowadnr.gov/geothermalwells.