In La Plata County, groundwater is not the same everywhere

If a La Plata County property is not on a public water system, it likely depends on a well. And here, a well is not a sure thing. The ground under this county is not uniform, so how much water a well can find, and how good that water is, changes from place to place.

The Colorado Geological Survey studied the county’s geology and groundwater. The short version for a buyer or landowner is that some areas have usable aquifers, some have water that is hard to reach, and some have water of poorer quality. Two neighbors can have very different luck below ground.

There is a second layer to this. A domestic well in Colorado is permitted by the state, and many household permits come with limits on what the water may be used for. Having a well does not mean unlimited water for irrigation, livestock, or a second home.

So before counting on a well, it is worth two checks: what the geology suggests for that specific area, and what the actual well permit allows.

Start with the Colorado Geological Survey’s La Plata County groundwater study and the state Division of Water Resources for the well permit.