Well permits in Otero County
3,393 well permits — 0.6% of Colorado’s register. The median well here is 40 feet deep, against 148 feet statewide.
3,393Permits
40 ftMedian depth
382Expired
0Denver Basin aquifer
How deep people drill in Otero County
This is the part a buyer actually wants, and it is not published anywhere else. The figures below are medians over the permits where the Division was told — a mean would be carried away by a handful of industrial wells.
| Measurement | Median | 90th percentile | Colorado median |
|---|---|---|---|
| Depth | 40 ft | 586 ft | 148 ft — shallower here (2,329 permits, 69 %) |
| Yield | 25 gpm | 790 gpm | 10 gpm — higher here (273 permits, 8 %) |
| Static water level | 21 ft | 240 ft | 58 ft — lower here (1,396 permits, 41 %) |
What the permits allow
A well permit is not a general right to water: it names what the water may be used for, and the narrowest of them — household use only — means inside the house and nothing else.
| Decreed use | Permits | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Domestic | 1,182 | 34.8% |
| Irrigation | 796 | 23.5% |
| Monitoring/sampling | 405 | 11.9% |
| Stock | 311 | 9.2% |
| Not stated | 303 | 8.9% |
| Commercial | 103 | 3.0% |
| Other | 89 | 2.6% |
| Municipal | 87 | 2.6% |
| Household Use Only | 76 | 2.2% |
| Industrial | 34 | 1.0% |
| Recreation | 4 | 0.1% |
| Wildlife | 1 | 0.0% |
What happened to these permits
2,221 of the 3,393 permits in Otero County ended with a well the Division was told about — 65.5%. And 382 expired without one: 11.3%.
An expired permit is the trap in a rural sale. A seller can produce a permit that lapsed years ago, and a permit is not a water right — the two are separate, and a purchase turns on both. What an expired permit does and does not mean.
| Status | Permits | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Well Constructed | 2,221 | 65.5% |
| Permit Expired | 382 | 11.3% |
| Well Abandoned | 174 | 5.1% |
| Permit Canceled | 138 | 4.1% |
| Well Replaced - Abandonment Required | 126 | 3.7% |
| Permit Issued | 114 | 3.4% |
| Application Denied | 74 | 2.2% |
| Application Received | 54 | 1.6% |
| Application Information Requested | 48 | 1.4% |
| 42 | 1.2% |
Which aquifers
| Aquifer | Permits | Share |
|---|---|---|
| All Unnamed Aquifers | 3,139 | 92.5% |
| Dakota | 91 | 2.7% |
| Alluvial | 40 | 1.2% |
| Not stated | 36 | 1.1% |
| Cheyenne | 25 | 0.7% |
| Dakota Sandstone | 19 | 0.6% |
| Quaternary Alluvium | 15 | 0.4% |
| Cheyenne Sandstone | 11 | 0.3% |
| Dakota Group Aquifer | 8 | 0.2% |
| Morrison | 3 | 0.1% |
When the permits were issued
| Issued in | Permits | Share |
|---|---|---|
| 2020s | 151 | 4.5% |
| 2010s | 262 | 7.7% |
| 2000s | 480 | 14.1% |
| 1990s | 460 | 13.6% |
| 1980s | 136 | 4.0% |
| 1970s | 168 | 5.0% |
| 1960s | 232 | 6.8% |
| 1950s | 342 | 10.1% |
| 1930s | 7 | 0.2% |
Buying land in Otero County, or need a well drilled?
3,393 well permits are on the Division’s register in Otero County, 382 of them expired. This site tells you what a permit says; it does not drill, and it is not advice on a water right. Tell us where and we pass the request to drillers and water-rights advisers working in Colorado.
We take no commission and we recommend no driller. We have no arrangement with any firm today — we are collecting these requests in order to go and find them. What we do with this.
Permits on record in Otero County
| Subdivision, or the permit number | Status | Decreed use | Depth (ft) | Yield (gpm) | Year |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Riverside Place permit 340531- | Well Constructed | Domestic | 0 | 0 | 2025 |
| Beaty permit 310450- | Well Constructed | Domestic | 43 | 0 | 1921 |
| North la Junta permit 304640- | Well Constructed | Domestic | 40 | 0 | 2017 |
| Jachim Settlement permit 302095- | Well Constructed | Domestic | 37 | 0 | 2016 |
| Lj Gardens permit 302931- | Well Constructed | Domestic | 36 | 0 | 1911 |
| Jc Fox permit 290108- | Well Constructed | Domestic | 45 | 0 | 1926 |
| Manzanola Town of permit 290473--A | Well Constructed | Domestic | 29 | 12 | 2013 |
| La Junta Gardens permit 286451- | Well Constructed | Domestic | 45 | 0 | 2011 |
| Fowler Lawler permit 282881- | Well Constructed | Irrigation | 28 | 0 | 2010 |
| San Joseville permit 282971--A | Well Constructed | Domestic | 28 | 0 | 2010 |
| Valley Vista permit 283347- | Well Constructed | Domestic | 583 | 0 | 2010 |
| Jachim permit 278047--A | Well Constructed | Domestic | 35 | 0 | 2010 |
| Dunton Gardens permit 274731--A | Well Constructed | Domestic | 35 | 0 | 2009 |
| Hancock permit 276192- | Well Constructed | Domestic | 35 | 0 | 2007 |
| Orchard Addition permit 255533--A | Well Constructed | Domestic | 27 | 0 | 2004 |
| Swinks (filing: 2) permit 248374- | Well Constructed | Domestic | 40 | 0 | 2003 |
| North la Junta permit 248250- | Well Constructed | Domestic | 40 | 0 | 2003 |
| East Addition North la Junta permit 248425- | Well Constructed | Domestic | 40 | 0 | 2003 |
| La Junta East Addition permit 248468- | Well Constructed | Domestic | 30 | 0 | 2003 |
| Reeds permit 248464- | Well Constructed | Domestic | 40 | 0 | 2003 |
| Riverside Place permit 249275- | Well Constructed | Domestic | 32 | 0 | 2003 |
| Malouff permit 253745- | Well Constructed | Commercial | 583 | 0 | 2005 |
| La Junta River Side permit 242935--A | Well Constructed | Domestic | 37 | 15 | 2004 |
| Swinks (filing: 2) permit 243135--A | Well Constructed | Domestic | 40 | 0 | 2004 |
| Jachim Settlement permit 243806--A | Well Constructed | Domestic | 40 | 15 | 2002 |
| Jachim Settlement permit 14327-R-R | Well Constructed | Irrigation | 40 | 500 | 2002 |
| La Junta Gardens permit 233714- | Well Constructed | Domestic | 40 | 0 | 2001 |
| Valley Vista permit 200354--A | Well Constructed | Domestic | 585 | 10 | 1999 |
| Riverside Place permit 48835-F | Well Constructed | Irrigation | 33 | 0 | 1997 |
| Lazy Acres permit 204994--A | Well Constructed | Domestic | 45 | 12 | 1997 |
| Garden Place permit 202303- | Well Constructed | Domestic | 33 | 0 | 1997 |
| Dunton Gardens permit 7662--A | Well Constructed | Domestic | 33 | 0 | 1997 |
| Valley Vista permit 194648- | Well Constructed | Domestic | 0 | 0 | 1996 |
| Manzanola Town of permit 196777- | Well Constructed | Domestic | 28 | 0 | 1996 |
| East la Junta permit 198143--A | Well Constructed | Domestic | 620 | 0 | 1996 |
| Dunton Gardens permit 187004- | Well Constructed | Domestic | 20 | 0 | 1995 |
| Dunton Gardens permit 189130- | Well Constructed | Domestic | 30 | 0 | 1995 |
| Fairview Addition permit 190070- | Well Constructed | Domestic | 28 | 0 | 1995 |
| Manzanola Town of permit 44080-F | Well Constructed | Municipal | 1205 | 0 | 1994 |
| Parkdale permit 159400- | Well Constructed | Household Use Only | 645 | 30 | 1994 |
| Sheltons Second permit 171120--A | Well Constructed | Stock | 39 | 0 | 1995 |
| Oneil Farms permit 2362-F-R | Well Constructed | Irrigation | 34 | 1200 | 1991 |
| Creery Gardens permit 160988--A | Well Constructed | Domestic | 35 | 0 | 1991 |
| Pd4382bh00459 permit 124072--A | Well Constructed | Stock | 570 | 15 | 1981 |
| Lazy Acres permit 33788--A | Well Constructed | Domestic | 30 | 5 | 1990 |
| Mccreery Gardens permit 150526- | Well Constructed | Stock | 38 | 0 | 1988 |
| Manzanola Town of permit 147125--A | Well Constructed | Domestic | 26 | 0 | 1987 |
| Ryan Brothers permit 148076--A | Well Constructed | Domestic | 35 | 0 | 1987 |
| Jachim permit 142533--A | Well Constructed | Domestic | 36 | 0 | 1985 |
| Jachim permit 142494- | Well Constructed | Domestic | 0 | 0 | 1985 |
| Jachim permit 142494--A | Well Constructed | Domestic | 35 | 15 | 1986 |
| Reeds permit 107919- | Well Constructed | Domestic | 36 | 0 | 1979 |
| Rocky Ford City of (filing: 2) permit 101998- | Well Constructed | Domestic | 30 | 0 | 1979 |
| Shelly permit 100475--A | Well Constructed | Domestic | 30 | 0 | 1978 |
| Parkdale Addition permit 10397-R-R | Well Constructed | Domestic | 480 | 0 | 1978 |
| Malouff permit 88826- | Well Constructed | Domestic | 0 | 0 | 1977 |
| Park Addition permit 759-R-R | Well Constructed | Municipal | 31 | 220 | 1975 |
| Mccreery Gardens permit 22394-F-R | Well Constructed | Irrigation | 32 | 0 | 1977 |
| Jackim Settlement permit 89979- | Well Constructed | Household Use Only | 35 | 0 | 1978 |
| Timpas Townsight permit 95152- | Well Constructed | Domestic | 60 | 0 | 1977 |
| Fowler Dunton Gardens permit 87556- | Well Constructed | Domestic | 29 | 0 | 1976 |
| Lazy Acres permit 58472- | Well Constructed | Domestic | 62 | 3 | 1972 |
| Fairfax Place permit 12915-F | Well Constructed | Commercial | 450 | 0 | 1968 |
| Mccreery Gardens permit 13197-R | Well Constructed | Irrigation | 0 | 0 | 1968 |
| Lazy Acres permit 24264- | Well Constructed | Domestic | 21 | 0 | 1965 |
| North la Junta permit 13520-R | Well Constructed | Irrigation | 35 | 0 | 1953 |
| La Junta Riverside permit 15310-R | Well Constructed | Irrigation | 22 | 0 | 1929 |
| La Junta Garden permit 15529-R | Well Constructed | Irrigation | 34 | 0 | 1960 |
| Beaty permit 19971-R | Well Constructed | Irrigation | 35 | 0 | 1957 |
| Indian Claim #9 permit 184-WCB | Well Constructed | Irrigation | 38 | 0 | 1956 |
| Lazy Acres | Well Constructed | Domestic | 0 | 0 | — |
| Riverside Place | Well Constructed | Domestic | 0 | 0 | — |
| North la Junta | Well Constructed | Domestic | 0 | 0 | — |
| Swinks (filing: 2) | Well Constructed | Other | 0 | 0 | — |
| Riverside Place permit 139-RN | Well Constructed | Domestic | 24 | 0 | 1950 |
| La Junta Gardens permit 295-RN | Well Constructed | Domestic | 42 | 0 | 1967 |
| Gillen permit 438-RN | Well Constructed | Domestic | 700 | 0 | 1950 |
| Morningside Heights permit 773-RN-A | Well Constructed | Domestic | 633 | 10 | 1976 |
| Dunton Gardens permit 784-RN | Well Constructed | Domestic | 31 | 0 | 1958 |
| Rocky Ford permit 818-RN | Well Constructed | Domestic | 216 | 0 | 1958 |
| Riverside Place permit 884-RN | Well Constructed | Domestic | 27 | 0 | 1948 |
| Manzanola permit 5455- | Well Constructed | Domestic | 43 | 0 | 1960 |
| Jachin permit 10813-R | Well Constructed | Irrigation | 0 | 0 | — |
| Manzanola permit 13005- | Well Constructed | Domestic | 30 | 0 | 1962 |
| Manzanola permit 14411- | Well Constructed | Domestic | 19 | 0 | 1963 |
| Catlin permit 21890- | Well Constructed | Domestic | 32 | 0 | 1964 |
| Manzanola permit 24944- | Well Constructed | Domestic | 36 | 0 | 1965 |
| Ja Junta Gardens permit 28176- | Well Constructed | Domestic | 35 | 0 | 1966 |
| Mcnutt Yergert permit 31278- | Well Constructed | Domestic | 35 | 0 | 1967 |
| North la Junta permit 38257- | Well Constructed | Domestic | 40 | 0 | 1969 |
| Jachim permit 86514- | Well Constructed | Household Use Only | 40 | 0 | 1976 |
| Mcnutt Yergert permit 127821- | Well Constructed | Domestic | 27 | 0 | 1965 |
| Tract D permit 340192- | Permit Issued | Household Use Only | 0 | 0 | 2025 |
| Beaty permit 340193--A | Permit Issued | Domestic | 0 | 0 | 2025 |
| North la Junta permit 336883--A | Permit Issued | Domestic | 0 | 0 | 2024 |
| Orchard Addition permit 309555- | Permit Issued | Domestic | 0 | 0 | 2018 |
| Beaty permit 310450--A | Permit Expired | Domestic | 0 | 0 | 2018 |
| Lj Gardens permit 302931--A | Permit Expired | Domestic | 0 | 0 | 2016 |
| Jc Fox permit 290108--A | Permit Expired | Domestic | 45 | 0 | 2013 |
| Manzanola Town of permit 290473- | Well Abandoned | Domestic | 30 | 0 | 2013 |
| San Joseville permit 282971- | Well Replaced - Abandonment Required | Domestic | 27 | 0 | 2010 |
| Jachim permit 278047- | Well Abandoned | Domestic | 35 | 0 | 2008 |
| Dunton Gardens permit 274731- | Well Replaced - Abandonment Required | Domestic | 40 | 0 | 2007 |
| Hancock permit 276192--A | Permit Expired | Domestic | 0 | 0 | 2007 |
| N Lajunta permit 43718-MH | Permit Expired | Monitoring/sampling | 0 | 0 | 2004 |
| Orchard Addition permit 255533- | Well Replaced - Abandonment Required | Domestic | 0 | 0 | 2004 |
| Swinks (filing: 2) permit 248374--A | Permit Expired | Domestic | 0 | 0 | 2003 |
| Malouff permit 250516--A | Permit Canceled | Household Use Only | 0 | 0 | 2003 |
| Malouff permit 250516- | Permit Canceled | Domestic | 50 | 0 | 2003 |
| La Junta River Side permit 242935- | Well Replaced - Abandonment Required | Domestic | 50 | 0 | 2002 |
By decreed use in Otero County
- Domestic in Otero County — 1,182
Counties with a comparable register
- Lincoln 4,107
- Montrose 3,965
- Delta 3,935
- Prowers 3,895
- Archuleta 3,805
- Rio Blanco 3,486
- San Miguel 3,416
- Phillips 2,865
- Lake 2,756
- Bent 2,362
- Sedgwick 2,293
- Cheyenne 2,133
- Montezuma 2,111
Neighbours by the size of their register, not a ranking: the list slides with the county you are on, so each of the 63 county pages is reachable from the others. All of them.