Well Drilling Contractor in Memphis

June 15, 2026

A well drilling contractor drills and constructs water wells, installs and repairs well pumps and pressure tanks, and performs well rehabilitation, water testing, and the proper sealing of abandoned wells. In the Memphis area, that work matters most outside the city itself. Memphis is Tennessee’s second-largest city, with a population of roughly 619,000 as of 2024 (U.S. Census Bureau), and homes within the city are served by Memphis Light, Gas and Water, which famously draws its supply from the Memphis Sand aquifer through municipal wells rather than individual private wells. As a result, residential well drilling contractors in this market generally serve the surrounding metro and the rural counties of West Tennessee, where farms, large rural lots, and properties beyond municipal lines depend on private groundwater systems.

Whoever does that work has to be licensed. Tennessee requires water well drillers and pump installers to hold a license from the Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation (TDEC) through its Division of Water Resources, under the Water Well Drillers and Pump Installers Licensing Act (TCA Title 69, Chapter 10). The program operates alongside the Board of Groundwater Management, which evaluates a driller’s documented experience and examination results. License classes are specific to the type of work, covering water well drilling, pump installation, water treatment device installation, and geothermal closed loops, so a property owner should confirm a contractor carries the right class for the job.

State rules also govern construction and recordkeeping. Minimum well-construction standards appear in TDEC Rule 0400-45-09, addressing casing, grouting, and the separation of a well from contamination sources, which is especially relevant in a region where agriculture and shallow groundwater coexist. After completing a well, the licensed driller must file a Water Well Driller’s Report, the well log, with TDEC within 60 days (Form CN-0825). That log captures the well’s depth, the formations drilled through, the casing installed, and the static water level, and it is retained in the state’s groundwater records. Anyone buying a West Tennessee property with an existing well can ask whether this report exists, and an owner drilling a new well should expect the contractor to file it.

Companies serving the Memphis area typically offer new well drilling, pump and pressure-tank installation and repair, water testing, water line work, and well rehabilitation, along with irrigation and large-diameter wells for farms and commercial sites. West Tennessee’s sandy aquifer geology generally yields good water but can carry iron, sediment, and hardness, so treatment and filtration are common add-on services. On cost, Tennessee’s 7% state sales tax plus the local option tax applies to equipment and materials, reaching roughly 9.75% in Shelby County. Consumer disputes over deceptive practices fall under the Tennessee Consumer Protection Act (TCA 47-18-104), enforced by the Division of Consumer Affairs, and homeowners can confirm a driller’s license through TDEC before any work begins. Because dedicated water well drillers are concentrated in the rural counties east of the city rather than in the urban core, buyers in the immediate Memphis area often work with metro-serving companies based in nearby West Tennessee communities.

Top Well Drilling Contractor Providers in Memphis

1. Wilson Well Co. Inc.

Address: 8050 Whiteville-Newcastle Road, Whiteville, TN 38075 (serves the Memphis metro and West Tennessee)
Phone: (731) 254-8150
Website: https://wilsonwell.com
Services: water well drilling, well repair and maintenance, pump installation, residential and commercial water systems, 24/7 emergency service
Description: Wilson Well Co. Inc. is a family-operated water well drilling company in Whiteville that has provided groundwater supply systems since 1946, placing it among the longest-running well contractors in West Tennessee. Led by Jordan Gilreath, the company works across a wide service radius from its Hardeman County base and is licensed to operate in both Tennessee and Mississippi. Its memberships reflect deep ties to the regional trade and building community, including the National Ground Water Association, the Tennessee Water Well Association, the West Tennessee Well Drillers Association, the Mississippi Ground Water Association, and the Memphis Area Home Builders Association. The company drills and services both residential and commercial water systems and offers 24/7 emergency response, which is significant for households and farms that lose water unexpectedly.

2. Fayette County Well Service

Address: 150 E. Latta Lane, Somerville, TN 38068 (serves Shelby and surrounding West Tennessee counties)
Phone: (901) 490-6541
Website: https://www.fayettecountywellservice.com
Services: water well drilling for new construction and remodeling, well repair and troubleshooting, water line installation, pond and lake work, permit handling
Description: Fayette County Well Service is a West Tennessee well contractor based in Somerville that has served the region since 2017 and holds Tennessee driller license #1067. The company explicitly serves Fayette, Shelby, Tipton, Haywood, and Hardeman counties, placing Memphis and Shelby County directly within its working area. Its services include drilling new wells for construction and remodeling projects, repairing and troubleshooting existing wells, installing water lines, and developing ponds and lakes. The company also assists clients through the state permit process for well installation, which involves the Notice of Intent and reporting requirements administered by TDEC, a practical benefit for owners unfamiliar with the regulatory steps involved in putting in a new well.

3. Water Well Solutions LLC

Address: 11495 Highway 64, Somerville, TN 38068 (serves Fayette County and the greater West Tennessee region)
Phone: (901) 465-8449
Website: https://www.waterwellsolutionsllc.com
Services: residential and large-diameter well drilling, pump installation and replacement, pressure tank replacement, water system repair and maintenance, irrigation wells, water filtration
Description: Water Well Solutions LLC is a Somerville-based company serving homeowners, farmers, municipalities, and industrial clients across Fayette County and the broader West Tennessee region, with drilling licensure in Tennessee, Kentucky, and Mississippi. The company designs and constructs wells ranging from roughly 4 inches to 16 inches in diameter and to depths reported up to about 1,000 feet, handling residential service alongside larger agricultural and commercial projects. Its work covers well drilling, pump and pressure-tank installation and replacement, water system repair and preventive maintenance, irrigation wells, and water filtration and purification. The firm operates a Somerville store near Tennessee Tractor along with a presence in Brownsville, and it expanded its reach through the purchase of Garner Houston Well Company, a West Tennessee well business operating since 1978.

Frequently Asked Questions About Well Drilling Contractors in Memphis

Q: Why are most well drilling contractors based outside the city of Memphis?

The city of Memphis is served by Memphis Light, Gas and Water, which supplies treated water drawn from the Memphis Sand aquifer through municipal wells. Because homes inside the city are generally on this municipal system, demand for private residential wells is concentrated in the surrounding rural counties of West Tennessee. Dedicated well drilling contractors are therefore mostly located in communities such as Somerville and Whiteville and serve the metro and rural fringe from there.

Q: Does a well drilling contractor in Memphis need a state license?

Yes. Tennessee requires anyone who drills or maintains a water well, or who installs or repairs well pumps and treatment devices, to be licensed by the Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation (TDEC) through its Division of Water Resources, under the Water Well Drillers and Pump Installers Licensing Act (TCA Title 69, Chapter 10). Licenses are specific to the work performed, so a property owner should confirm the contractor holds the correct class, whether for drilling, pump installation, or treatment.

Q: What is a well log and who files it?

A well log, formally the Water Well Driller’s Report (Form CN-0825), documents a well’s depth, the formations drilled through, the casing installed, and the static water level. The licensed driller must file this report with TDEC within 60 days of completing the well, and it becomes part of the state’s permanent groundwater record. Property owners can ask a contractor to confirm this filing for a new well, and buyers can ask whether a report exists for an older one.

Q: What does West Tennessee groundwater typically require in terms of treatment?

West Tennessee sits over a sandy aquifer system that generally produces good water, but well water in the region can carry iron, sediment, and hardness minerals. Many well contractors therefore offer water testing and install filtration or treatment equipment to address taste, staining, and plumbing concerns. Testing a new or existing well for bacteria and minerals is a common first step before deciding on treatment.

Q: How much tax applies to a well system in Memphis?

Tennessee’s 7% state sales tax plus the local option tax applies to well equipment and materials, reaching roughly 9.75% in Shelby County. Labor may be handled differently depending on how a contractor structures the transaction, so requesting an itemized estimate that separates equipment, materials, and any taxable charges helps clarify the total cost of a new well or pump system.

Q: How do I verify a contractor and handle a dispute?

Confirm the contractor’s license through TDEC’s Division of Water Resources licensed-driller records before signing a contract, and ask whether the company will file the required well report. If a dispute arises over deceptive practices, complaints can be filed with the Tennessee Division of Consumer Affairs under the Tennessee Consumer Protection Act (TCA 47-18-104). Concerns about licensing or construction standards can be directed to TDEC, which administers the well-construction rules under Rule 0400-45-09.