Water Well Drillers and Pump Installers
A water well driller is a person who drills, bores, cores, or constructs a water well. The term includes an owner, an operator, a contractor, or a drilling supervisor. A Pump Installer installs or repairs well pumps and equipment. For more information about the Water Well Drillers and Pump Installers Program, e-mail TDLR at water.well@tdlr.texas.gov.
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News and Updates
Summary of Proposed Rule Changes
September 22, 2023
The Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation proposes changes to the rules at 16 TAC, Chapter 76, Water Well Drillers and Water Well Pump Installers. For information on the proposed rule changes and how you can submit public comments, please see the documents below:
The Department will accept comments on the proposed rule changes until November 6, 2023.
Texas Water Development Board Requests Data on Aquifer or Well Tests
August 15, 2023
Texas Water Development Board (TWDB) has contracted to develop a statewide database of aquifer/well test data. This new database will be a centralized source of information about important aquifer properties throughout the State. When completed, it will be made available to stakeholders.
If you have access to scanned documents or digitized data, listing data and information on aquifer/well tests, then please contact Dr. Vivek Bedekar, Ph.D., or the manager of the Groundwater Modeling Program for the TWDB, Mr. Daryn Hardwick by September 30, 2023.
Winterizing Your Well
February 24, 2021
One of the lessons learned from the February 2021 winter storm that impacted Texas is that winterizing equipment is important. TDLR urges private well owners to take the time to weatherproof all vital above ground components as soon as possible if they haven’t already done so. Good thermal protection can help to protect your equipment from extreme cold and the Texas summer heat. Read more at wellowner.org.
Continuing Education for Water Well Drillers and Pump Installers
August 14, 2020
In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, TDLR is providing a clarification regarding the use of virtual instruction for continuing education of Water Well Driller and Pump Installer licensees.
Continuing education providers are allowed to use a virtual delivery method to provide any approved continuing education course. After TDLR approves the initial course submission, no additional approval is required to use virtual instruction.
A continuing education provider:
- is responsible for ensuring that proper credit is reported for all participants and for verifying attendance;
- is not required to provide any attendance reports or documents directly to TDLR other than reporting the completions using our online reporting system; and
- has discretion to use an analytic report, roll call, face verification, attendance questions, or any other option to verify attendance.
COVID-19: Continuing Education Waived
March 24, 2020
TDLR continuing education requirements are waived for all individual licenses expiring in March, April, and May 2020. Licensees still need to submit their renewal applications, pay the required fees, and TDLR will check their criminal histories, but they will not need to complete any TDLR-required continuing education this licensing cycle. (§51.405, Occupations Code)
Note: TDLR is not authorized to waive continuing education requirements imposed by a certifying or credentialing entity other than TDLR. If a certifying entity requires continuing education to maintain certification, and certification is required for Texas licensure, then that continuing education must be completed. If the certifying entity waives continuing education or allows it to be completed on a delayed basis due to COVID-19, then you may follow the certifying entity’s policy.
Please check the TDLR COVID-19 webpage for the most up-to-date information.
Private Wells Under Flood Waters
June 23, 2017
If you own a private water well and the well was under flood waters, you may want to have the well tested or disinfected. Download the Well Disinfection Guide (PDF)
Advisory Council Meetings
September 21, 2023
The Texas Water Well Drillers Advisory Council met September 21, 2023 in Austin. The meeting was archived and is available on TDLR's YouTube channel. The agenda and staff reports are available online.