Well (private water source)

A well (studna) is a structure for drawing groundwater, either dug (shaft) or drilled. The Water Act classifies it as a water works and treats water in a well as groundwater. It can supply drinking water to a house without a public water main, or serve only for watering the garden.

Which permits a well needs

• A building permit from the building authority. A well for abstraction not exceeding 6,000 m³ per calendar year or 500 m³ in each month is a simple structure under the Building Act.
• A groundwater abstraction permit from the water authority of the municipality with extended powers. It is usually based on a hydrogeologist's opinion.
• Since 1 August 2025 such small wells do not go through occupancy approval; the builder only notifies the building authority of completion.

Abstraction of up to 6,000 m³ a year, or up to 500 m³ in each month, is exempt from the groundwater abstraction charge. Abstracting water without a permit is an offence.

Older wells and buying a house

Permits to abstract groundwater for individual household drinking water supply issued by the end of 2001 did not lapse on 1 January 2008 like other old permits and remain valid. Rights under an abstraction permit tied to a plot or house pass to the new owner if the well keeps serving the same purpose; the transfer must be notified to the water authority within 2 months. When buying, ask for the abstraction permit and the documents permitting the well.

Water quality

For a well serving only a household, the law does not require regular testing. The duty to ensure drinking water quality lies with public water operators and with those who use water from their own source in a business or supply public facilities with it. Drinking water limits are set by Decree No. 252/2004 Coll. Tests of private wells often show at least one parameter exceeded, so water laboratories recommend testing at least once a year. A test will also show the water hardness.

Distances from sources of pollution

The construction requirements decree sets the minimum distance of a well from a cesspit, household treatment plant or sewer connection at 12 m in low-permeability ground and 30 m in permeable ground; the same distances apply to a public road. The building authority may grant an exception. The water authority must set a water source protection zone only for sources with an average abstraction above 10,000 m³ a year, so one is usually not set for an ordinary household well.