A town that was once the county seat
The Texas State Historical Association says W. W. Shepperd founded Montgomery in 1837 and that it was the first county seat, serving for more than five decades until Conroe took over in 1889. It lies about 15 miles west of Conroe and about 50 miles northwest of Houston, near the southwestern edge of the Sam Houston National Forest.
The population was 489 in 2000 and an estimated 2,321 in 2021. Each new house along the edge of town raises the same question: connect to a water line, or drill. The well drilling cost guide and a utility connection quote make the comparison concrete.
Soil, forest and groundwater on the west side
The state history describes soils in the south and west of the county as light-colored and loamy, with deep reddish subsoils that range from clayey to loamy. Pine and hardwood forest covers much of the surrounding land, and a drilling rig needs a cleared, firm path to the wellsite. After heavy rain, ask the provider whether the lane will hold.
A 1971 Texas Water Development Board report found that the thickest slightly saline sand in the Catahoula Sandstone, about 200 feet, lies northwest of the town of Montgomery. A well that ends up in that layer would produce water with more dissolved salts, so the layer choice in the driller's plan matters. The report treats the Chicot as very fresh, often acidic and iron-rich, and the Evangeline and upper Jasper as fresh and often hard, which is why the water testing guide asks for iron, pH and hardness once as a baseline.
Which rules apply here
Both the city and the surrounding country are in Lone Star Groundwater Conservation District. Registration comes before drilling, a Notice to Proceed follows, and the driller files a report within 60 days. Inside city limits, ask the city whether it has its own rules or a water service area that covers your lot, since a district exemption does not answer that question.
We could not find a published typical lot size for the city or the rural west side. The district's lot test for newer wells is 1.5 acres, with an exception for lots recorded before December 1, 1986, and the district's form points small-lot owners to the Montgomery County Health Department. The registration and permits guide shows the steps.
Typical calls from west Montgomery County
- Pump trouble on a well tied to an old farmhouse or homestead on a larger tract
- A pressure tank that cycles every few seconds, which the pump checklist helps describe over the phone
- A second well for a barn, arena or pasture trough so the house keeps steady pressure
- A first well on a lot where the water line does not reach
- An unregistered well that came with a purchase and needs paperwork
Choosing who to call
Ask each provider for a TDLR license number and check it. Ask them to separate drilling, pump, tank and wiring on the quote, to say which aquifer layer they plan to use, and to say who files the district paperwork. The nearby Willis and Conroe pages cover those places, and the well owner FAQ answers common questions about buying a house with a well.
Common questions
Is the town of Montgomery the same as Montgomery County?
No. The city is one small town in the county, about 15 miles west of Conroe. The county's groundwater district covers both.
Can I use the Catahoula layer for a household well?
The district lists the Catahoula as the county's alternative water source and sets its own spacing rule for it. The state report finds both fresh and slightly saline water there, so ask a provider about water quality before choosing it.
Do I need approval from the city to drill?
We did not find a city rule. Ask the city of Montgomery and the district before you hire anyone, because a developed lot may have a different answer from a rural tract.
Who sets the schedule for a visit?
The provider who calls you back does. We cannot give a date or time for any job.