Oregon Landowner's Water Well Bond
Overview
Oregon landowners who want to drill their own water well on their property are protected by this bond — and so is the state's groundwater supply. Before the Oregon Water Resources Department will authorize a landowner to construct a well without a licensed water well contractor, it requires this bond as a guarantee that the work will meet Oregon's well construction standards. Failure to properly construct, seal, or abandon a well can contaminate an aquifer that serves an entire region. This bond backs the landowner's commitment to do the job right or make it right.
Who Needs This Bond?
Landowners in Oregon who plan to drill, construct, or deepen their own water well without hiring a licensed well contractor need this bond. Oregon law allows property owners to perform certain well work on their own land, but the Oregon Water Resources Department does not simply take your word for it — the bond is the financial guarantee they require before issuing that authorization. If you own the land, intend to do the well work yourself, and have applied for a landowner exemption, this is your bond.
What is this Bond For?
Drilling a water well improperly can introduce surface contaminants directly into groundwater that other Oregonians rely on for drinking water. This bond guarantees that the landowner will construct, case, seal, and — if necessary — properly abandon the well in accordance with Oregon well construction standards enforced by the Oregon Water Resources Department. If the work causes contamination, creates a health hazard, or violates those standards, the bond provides the financial backing to remediate the damage. It protects neighboring property owners, the public water supply, and the state's obligation to safeguard Oregon's groundwater.
When is it Required?
Authorization is the trigger — this bond must be in place before the Oregon Water Resources Department will approve a landowner's application to construct a water well without a licensed contractor. You cannot break ground, begin drilling, or advance any part of well construction under a landowner exemption until the bond is filed and accepted. If you are at the permit stage right now, getting this bond is the next step that unlocks the authorization you need.
Where Does it Apply?
This bond is a statewide Oregon requirement administered by the Oregon Water Resources Department. It covers the specific well project authorized under the landowner exemption — it does not license you to drill wells on other people's property or in other states. The bond follows Oregon well construction law and applies wherever in Oregon the authorized well is located.
How to Buy Online
Click 'Buy This Bond Online' on this page and Bond Titan will open the secure surety portal in a new tab — complete your application there in minutes. Once your bond is issued, you receive your bond documents digitally so you can submit proof to the Oregon Water Resources Department without delay. No agent callback, no waiting rooms, no paper forms mailed back and forth.
Why Bond Titan?
Bond Titan is a nationwide surety bond storefront powered by The Southern Agency, built for operators who need the right bond fast and don't have time to track down a local agent. Our online catalog covers environmental and well-related bonds across all fifty states, so you get the exact bond Oregon requires — not a close substitute. Buy online, get your documents, and get back to your project.