TEXAS DEPARTMENT OF LICENSING & REGULATION WATER WELL DRILLERS & PUMP INSTALLERS AT A GLANCE
Statutes: Chapters 1901, 1902, Occupations Code Rules: Title 16 T.A.C. Chapter 76
Inspections? Yes (Random Compliance) Number of Licensees: 2,136 (FY 20) Overview: A license is required to drill a water environmental or injection well in Texas and to install a pump for a water well. TDLR regulates private water well drilling and pump installation while the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality’s Plan Review Section regulates public water supply well construction.
License
Fee
Driller (initial application)
$215
Driller (renewal)
$215
Installer (initial application)
$215
Installer (renewal)
$215
Combination Driller & Installer (initial application) $325 Combination Driller & Installer (renewal)
$325
No permits are required at the state level to drill a water well; however, permits or well registrations may be required by local ordinances or groundwater conservation districts.
Apprentice (initial application)
$65
Apprentice (renewal)
$65
A landowner is responsible for plugging an abandoned and/or deteriorated water well. The landowner may plug the well themselves or hire a licensed well driller and/or licensed pump installer to plug the well.
Combination Apprentice (initial application)
$115
Combination Apprentice (renewal)
$115
To learn about or report an abandoned well in Texas, visit www.tdlr.texas.gov/wwd/abandonedwells.htm Licensing Well Drillers Applicants must have a minimum of 2 years of experience under the supervision of a licensed Well Driller. The General Exam must be passed before any license or endorsement may be issued. To be eligible for additional endorsements, licensees must take the applicable endorsement exam after performing the minimum number of qualifying drillings required for the endorsement: ● Water Wells (W) – 15 qualifying drillings ● Monitor Wells (M) – 50 qualifying drillings ● Injection Wells (N) – 50 qualifying drillings ● Dewatering Wells (D) – 50 qualifying drillings ● Closed Loop Geothermal Wells (C) – 50 qualifying drillings ● Master License (I) – 215 qualifying drillings Pump Installers ● Applicants must have a minimum of 2 years of experience under the supervision of a licensed Pump Installer. The General Exam must be passed before any license or endorsement may be issued. To be eligible for additional endorsements, licensees must take the applicable endorsement exam after performing the minimum number of qualifying installations required for the endorsement:
● Single Phase Pumps (P) – 15 qualifying installations ● 3 Phase Pumps (K) – 15 qualifying installations ● Turbine Pump (T) – 15 qualifying installations ● Windmill, Pump jack, hand pump – 15 qualifying installations ● Master License (I) – 60 qualifying installations Apprentices Apprentices must be at least 18 years old and be under the supervision of a Licensed Well Driller/Pump Installer who has been licensed in Texas for a minimum of 2 years. The Water Well Drillers Advisory Council has 9 members serving 6-year terms, which includes: ● six members who are drillers experienced in the well drilling business and familiar with well drilling, completion, and plugging methods and techniques. One member must be selected from the state at large and the remaining five driller members must be selected from each of the following geographic areas of the state: • Gulf Coast area; • Trans-Pecos area; • Central Texas area; • Northeast Texas area; • Panhandle–South Plains area. ● three public members.
For more information, please contact the TDLR Office of Strategic Communication: media.inquiries@tdlr.texas.gov.
TDLR AAG FORM-036 Sept. 2020