Water Well Drillers & Pump Installers at a glance

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)

License

Driller (initial application)

Fee

$215

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.

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.

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. Driller (renewal) $215

Installer (initial application)

$215 Installer (renewal) $215 Combination Driller & Installer (initial application) $325 Combination Driller & Installer (renewal) $325 Apprentice (initial application) $65 Apprentice (renewal) $65 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.