The Ohio Department of Natural Resources Water Well Database can help identify reported well depth, static water level, pump-test information, aquifer or formation context, casing and completion details where those fields exist. Treat each log as a historical record for that well—not a performance guarantee for another location.
SEARCH STRATEGY
Start broad, then narrow the area.
The ODNR database provides county, township and road searches as well as custom record searches. Its geospatial tools include radius, buffered-area and polygon searches for records with known coordinates. Searching more than one way helps account for incomplete or older location data.
- 01
Confirm the county and township used by the well-log filing system.
- 02
Search by road, record fields or other available location details.
- 03
Use a radius or area search around the property for geocoded records.
- 04
Compare dates, reported locations and construction details before treating logs as nearby context.
READ THE LOG
Fields that can inform an early geothermal discussion.
Level and test
Reported static water level, pump-test rate, drawdown and test duration may help frame questions about groundwater availability.
Depth and casing
Total depth, casing diameter, completion date, drilling information and well use help identify what kind of record is being reviewed.
Aquifer and formation
Recorded aquifer and geologic-formation fields can provide regional context, subject to the quality and completeness of the original log.
WHAT THE DATABASE DOES NOT PROVE
A nearby record is not a site test.
- The mapped point or address is accurate enough for design or legal boundaries.
- The well still exists, is accessible or remains in its reported condition.
- The reported test represents current sustained yield or seasonal performance.
- The water chemistry is suitable for the selected heat exchanger and discharge method.
- The property has legal access to the well or an approved discharge pathway.
- Conditions between neighboring wells are uniform.
OPEN-LOOP GEOTHERMAL
Quantity, quality and discharge must all work.
An open-loop heat pump needs a dependable source flow at the required operating conditions, acceptable water quality and an approved method of returning or discharging water. Pumping energy, filtration, fouling, corrosion, mineral content and seasonal behavior can affect feasibility and maintenance.
- Nearby reported depths
- Historical static levels
- Reported tests and aquifer context
- Questions for the site visit
- Sustained yield and drawdown
- Current water chemistry
- Well condition and pump energy
- Discharge, setbacks and approvals
CLOSED-LOOP CONTEXT
Water-well logs do not size a vertical closed loop.
Nearby logs may provide subsurface context, but a closed-loop geothermal design still requires the verified building load, selected equipment, ground-design assumptions and site-specific decisions for bore count, depth, spacing, grout, circuiting and flow. A water-well test rate is not a closed-loop thermal-property test.
Open the vertical-bore guide →SITE-WALK CHECKLIST
What turns record context into a feasibility decision.
- Confirm the subject property, well ownership and actual well location.
- Inspect the well, pump, piping, electrical supply and accessible records.
- Complete the required yield, drawdown and recovery testing.
- Obtain water-quality data appropriate to the equipment and discharge plan.
- Confirm setbacks, discharge requirements and applicable permits.
- Evaluate pumping energy, maintenance and freeze-protection requirements.
- Document the final equipment, flow, heat-exchanger and operating design.
RESPONSIBLE PROJECT RECORDS
Use addresses for design—not public storytelling.
Customer addresses and precise well locations belong in the project and ServiceTitan records. Public blog posts should use approved, de-identified project facts and city-level context unless the customer has expressly authorized more detail.