Pursuant to Colorado Revised Statues §37-90-143, when property changes ownership that includes the transfer of a registered / permitted residential well, the buyer must complete prior to or at closing, Form No. GWS-11. Change in Owner Name/Address form for existing wells on the property and submit it to our office. There is no charge to complete this form. If the buyer would like to be notified when this change in owner name/address is completed, it should be indicated in writing when the form is mailed or faxed to us, otherwise we do not automatically provide such notification. Filing a Notice of a Change in Owner Name/Address is for contact information purposes only. This action does not convey real property.
For all residential real estate transactions conducted on or after January 1, 2009, Colorado Revised Statutes §38-30-102 has been amended by HB08-1014 to further require that if an existing well has not yet been registered with the division, the buyer shall complete a registration of existing well form for the well. Within 60 days of closing, all applicable form(s) and supporting documentation and fees necessary for evaluation must be submitted to the Colorado Division of Water Resources. Please see the Registering an Existing Residential Well page and the Guide to HB08-1014 for more information.
An application to register an existing well (form GWS-12) may be submitted for residential wells constructed and put to use prior to May 8, 1972 and continued to be used for those historical purposes established prior to May 8, 1972. A field inspection by a Colorado Division of Water Resources staff member may be required. Please contact the appropriate Division Office for the area where the well is located to request a field inspection.
If your well location is inside of Water Divisions 1 (South Platte River Basin) or 2 (Arkansas River Basin) you must also complete Form No. GWS-12A, Statement of Historical Use, and submit it with this Form No. GWS-12. If your well location is inside Water Divisions 3 (Rio Grande River Basin), 4 (Gunnison River Basin), 5 (Colorado River Basin), 6 (Yampa/White River Basins) or 7 (San Juan/Dolores River Basins), the existence and use of the well must be verified by field inspection prior to submitting this form. To request an inspection, contact the appropriate Division Office. Please note that Water Divisions 3 – 7 may also require the completion of the supporting Form No. GWS-12A.
An application to permit an existing well (form GWS-44) may be submitted for residential wells constructed after May 8, 1972 or for those wells where the use has changed or expanded after May 8, 1972. These applications must be accompanied by a completed Existing Well Information and Inspection Form (GWS-68).
See our Registering an Existing Well page for additional details.