Well Logs & Reports

What is a Well Log?

A well log is a crucial source of information that documents the construction of a water supply well. Detailed well logs contain information such as the types and thickness of each geological sequence encountered, the types of materials used in well construction, the construction techniques used during installation, the water levels of the aquifer(s) while at rest and when pumping, how much water the well will provide, and then name and contact information of the DNR Certified Well Contractor(s) who provided oversight during well construction. The well log provides the well owner with an important tool that can help troubleshoot the well if problems develop, and it is a requirement in Iowa for all new well construction.

Well Record Form, 542-8170

IIHR-IGS GeoSam Database

GeoSam is Iowa’s geologic site and sample tracking database maintained by the Iowa Institute of Hydralic Research (IIHR)-Iowa Geological Survey. GeoSam provides location, identification, and other key information about every available well, rock exposure, or site of geologic information in Iowa. GeoSam can be used by drillers, consultants, engineers, property owners, and the general public to aid in estimating the depth to major geologic features, well depth and construction concepts, water yield of specific aquifers, and other site specific information needs. The system can be searched using either a map-based or text-based interface. It does not require a login.

DNR's Iowa Well Information System (IWIS)

The Iowa Well Information System contains information for many of the wells installed in Iowa. It can be used by county and state staff to track private well construction permitting, water testing, well renovations and well plugging. It is designed as an authorized user system for the purpose of Iowa's well program record keeping. The public can create an account and view the information in IWIS. Unfortunately, IWIS does not provide well information for every Iowa well that has been installed throughout history - this type of information does not exist.

Iowa Well Forecasting System (IWFoS)

The Iowa Well Forecasting System (IWFoS) provides well information, including aquifer depths and water quality. This historical data is available in IWFoS through publicly available data from the DNR, including water quality from IWIS and well geology from GeoSAM. Because the intent of IWFoS is to better inform the drilling of new wells, we include information from these databases regardless of whether the wells shown are still active so as to provide as much data as possible to improve decision making. This is a beta version which in actively being developed. Its functions and all information are provided on an "as is" and "as available" basis. IWFoS was developed by the University of Iowa Hydroinformatics Lab (UIHI Lab), the Iowa Geological Society (IGS), and the Center for Health Effects of Environmental Contamination (CHEEC) at the University of Iowa.