Source: U.S. Census Bureau QuickFacts for Henderson County, North Carolina.
Quick answer: pump and tank work in Henderson County does not need a county repair permit under state law, but new wells, well repairs beyond the pump, and abandonments are permitted and inspected by Henderson County Environmental Health. If your well flooded during Hurricane Helene, disinfect it and have the water tested before drinking it.
Bored wells and drilled wells in Henderson County
N.C. Cooperative Extension in Henderson County describes two kinds of private wells in the county. A bored well is a shallow, wide hole, typically 30 to 50 feet deep and 24 to 36 inches across, lined with concrete or a steel or plastic casing that runs down to bedrock. A drilled well is a narrow 4 or 6 inch hole that can reach 500 feet or more into bedrock. Extension notes that older bored wells are especially vulnerable to contamination, because some were built before well design rules, and may lack a casing, a sanitary cap, or a leak-proof seal. Rust or tree roots can also compromise old casings.
The difference matters for pump work. Replacing a pump in a drilled well means pulling it on its drop pipe out of a narrow borehole. An old bored well is wide and shallow, and its casing, seal, and wellhead may need as much attention as the pump. Extension says a proper wellhead has a casing, a concrete slab extending above ground, a sanitary seal, and grout filling any space between the casing and the ground. If you are looking at a pump replacement on an older bored well, ask the contractor to inspect the wellhead at the same visit.
The county permit process
- Who. Henderson County Environmental Health, part of the Department of Public Health at 1200 Spartanburg Highway in Hendersonville.
- How to apply. The county takes private well applications through an online public portal or in person at the Permit Center. N.C. Cooperative Extension lists weekday application hours of 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. and notes that an application fee is required.
- Inspections. An inspection is required at different stages of construction, repair, or abandonment. When all inspections are approved, a Well Completion Permit is issued.
- Pump or tank only. State law says no repair permit is required for repairing or replacing a pump or tank.
The county also offers water testing for bacteria, chemicals, pesticides, and nitrates, for a fee that depends on the test. Extension recommends that private well owners test annually, and any time the water changes in clarity, color, taste, or smell, because most wells are not tested the way municipal water is.
What Helene did in Henderson County
The National Hurricane Center's report on Hurricane Helene records 21.70 inches of rain at a gauge 5 miles southwest of Hendersonville. The French Broad River near Fletcher broke its record by 10.5 feet, Mills River near Mills River broke a record that dates to 1928 by 2.0 feet, and Bat Fork Creek broke its record by 4.7 feet.
In October 2024 the Henderson County Department of Public Health offered well water sampling at no charge to residents whose wells were flooded or damaged, covering coliform bacteria and E. coli after the well had been disinfected. The county asked that power be restored, the well be disinfected, and the property and wellhead be accessible before it sent staff. Henderson County Environmental Health was also among the health departments the state listed for free well disinfection kits.
A flooded well can need more than chlorine. Check the pump house, the electrical connections, the pressure tank, and the pressure switch, and see the no water from well guide for safe first checks.
Cost and timing notes
A pump replacement in the mountains is priced by depth, horsepower, and what else gets replaced. Published North Carolina guides cite $1,500 to $3,500 for a typical submersible pump, with deep wells higher. The well pump replacement cost guide has the breakdown. Ask how soon a crew can come out, and whether the price changes for a weekend call.
Towns and ZIP codes
- Hendersonville: 28739, 28791, 28792, 28793
- Flat Rock: 28731. East Flat Rock: 28726
- Etowah: 28729. Horse Shoe: 28742
- Fletcher: 28732. Mills River: 28759
- Edneyville: 28727. Zirconia: 28790. Tuxedo: 28784
- Mountain Home: 28758. Naples: 28760. Dana: 28724
- Bat Cave: 28710. Gerton: 28735
The local visitors bureau lists Apple Country around Edneyville, Etowah and Horse Shoe along the French Broad, Flat Rock, Fletcher, Laurel Park, and Mills River among the county's main communities. When you call, tell the contractor whether your well sits in a river bottom, on a slope, or on an in-town lot.
Request a contractor in Henderson County
Use the form below with your ZIP code and what the well is doing. We send your request to one independent well contractor serving your area, and they contact you. Related guides: well pump repair, well pump replacement, pressure tank replacement, and well drilling. Neighboring areas: Asheville and Buncombe County and Marshall and Madison County.