In Gilpin County, your well permit tells you what your water can do

Up in the forested parts of Gilpin County, a lot of homes have their own private well instead of a town water hookup. That self-reliance is part of the appeal of mountain living, and the well permit is the handy document that tells you exactly what your water can do.

Colorado treats groundwater as part of a shared, fully spoken-for water system, so a state well permit spells out what the water may be used for. Some permits allow only indoor household use. Others may add limited outdoor use or livestock. The permit, not the depth of the well or the size of the lot, sets the rules. So a property with “a well” is worth checking if you have plans for watering a garden, filling a pond, or serving more than one home.

This matters here because Gilpin County is high, dry in spots, and made up of many small mountain parcels. If you are dreaming of a big garden, a horse, or a second cabin, read the actual well permit so you know what you have got. If a parcel has no well yet, getting one is its own process with the state, and approval is not guaranteed for every use, so it is good to plan around.

The county handles septic and building, but well water rights run through the state. Confirm the permit and its allowed uses with the Colorado Division of Water Resources before you count on the water.