TEXAS WATER WELL DRILLER LICENSE
COMPREHENSIVE PRACTICE EXAM
200 Practice Questions with Detailed Rationales & TDLR / TAC
Compliance Standards
Q1. According to 16 TAC Chapter 76, what is the required
horizontal distance a new water well must be placed from a septic
tank absorption field?
(A) 25 feet
(B) 50 feet
(C) 100 feet
(D) 150 feet
Correct Answer: (B)
Rationale: 16 TAC §76.1000 requires a minimum horizontal distance
of 50 feet between a water well and a septic tank absorption field.
Q2. Within how many days must a driller submit a completed State
of Texas Well Report to TDLR and the groundwater conservation
district?
(A) 10 days
(B) 30 days
(C) 60 days
(D) 90 days
Correct Answer: (C)
Rationale: Under 16 TAC §76.70, the completed well report must be
submitted within 60 days after drilling completion.
,Q3. What state agency administers and enforces water well driller
and pump installer licensing in Texas?
(A) TCEQ
(B) TWDB
(C) TDLR
(D) Railroad Commission
Correct Answer: (C)
Rationale: TDLR administers Chapter 1902 of the Texas Occupations
Code and 16 TAC Chapter 76.
Q4. What is the minimum annular space required around casing
when cementing public supply or standard wells in unconsolidated
formations?
(A) 1 inch
(B) 1.5 inches
(C) 2 inches
(D) 3 inches
Correct Answer: (C)
Rationale: TDLR rules mandate a minimum annular space of 2 inches
to ensure effective grout placement.
Q5. Who is legally responsible for signing and certifying the State of
Texas Well Report?
(A) Landowner
(B) Licensed Driller
(C) Pump Installer
(D) Groundwater District Inspector
Correct Answer: (B)
Rationale: The licensed driller who completes the well must sign the
report certifying accuracy.
,Q6. What is the minimum surface casing depth required for a
private water well in Texas, unless local rules dictate otherwise?
(A) 10 feet
(B) 20 feet
(C) 50 feet
(D) 100 feet
Correct Answer: (B)
Rationale: Standard TDLR regulations require a minimum of 20 feet
of cemented surface casing.
Q7. Who is authorized to plug/seal an abandoned water well in
Texas?
(A) Any contractor
(B) Licensed Water Well Driller
(C) Plumber
(D) Property owner without experience
Correct Answer: (B)
Rationale: Only licensed water well drillers (or pump installers under
specific permits) may plug wells under TAC Chapter 76.
Q8. What penalty can be imposed for drilling a water well in Texas
without a valid license?
(A) Warning only
(B) Administrative fines, civil suits, and potential criminal
misdemeanor charges
(C) Tax penalties
(D) None
Correct Answer: (B)
Rationale: Unlicensed drilling violates Texas Occupations Code
Chapter 1902, leading to civil and administrative enforcement
actions.
, Q9. How many continuing education hours (CEUs) are required for
license renewal per cycle?
(A) 2 hours
(B) 4 hours
(C) 8 hours
(D) 12 hours
Correct Answer: (B)
Rationale: Licensees must complete 4 hours of TDLR-approved
continuing education per renewal cycle.
Q10. What is the minimum distance between a water well and an
animal feedlot or livestock yard?
(A) 25 feet
(B) 50 feet
(C) 100 feet
(D) 200 feet
Correct Answer: (C)
Rationale: A 100-foot isolation distance is required from animal
feedlots and manure storage.
Q11. What number must be permanently stamped or welded onto
the well casing or surface plate?
(A) Driller's license number
(B) State Well Report Number (WRA)
(C) Tax ID
(D) Pump serial number
Correct Answer: (B)
Rationale: TDLR requires the State Well Report Number to be
affixed to the well casing for tracking.
COMPREHENSIVE PRACTICE EXAM
200 Practice Questions with Detailed Rationales & TDLR / TAC
Compliance Standards
Q1. According to 16 TAC Chapter 76, what is the required
horizontal distance a new water well must be placed from a septic
tank absorption field?
(A) 25 feet
(B) 50 feet
(C) 100 feet
(D) 150 feet
Correct Answer: (B)
Rationale: 16 TAC §76.1000 requires a minimum horizontal distance
of 50 feet between a water well and a septic tank absorption field.
Q2. Within how many days must a driller submit a completed State
of Texas Well Report to TDLR and the groundwater conservation
district?
(A) 10 days
(B) 30 days
(C) 60 days
(D) 90 days
Correct Answer: (C)
Rationale: Under 16 TAC §76.70, the completed well report must be
submitted within 60 days after drilling completion.
,Q3. What state agency administers and enforces water well driller
and pump installer licensing in Texas?
(A) TCEQ
(B) TWDB
(C) TDLR
(D) Railroad Commission
Correct Answer: (C)
Rationale: TDLR administers Chapter 1902 of the Texas Occupations
Code and 16 TAC Chapter 76.
Q4. What is the minimum annular space required around casing
when cementing public supply or standard wells in unconsolidated
formations?
(A) 1 inch
(B) 1.5 inches
(C) 2 inches
(D) 3 inches
Correct Answer: (C)
Rationale: TDLR rules mandate a minimum annular space of 2 inches
to ensure effective grout placement.
Q5. Who is legally responsible for signing and certifying the State of
Texas Well Report?
(A) Landowner
(B) Licensed Driller
(C) Pump Installer
(D) Groundwater District Inspector
Correct Answer: (B)
Rationale: The licensed driller who completes the well must sign the
report certifying accuracy.
,Q6. What is the minimum surface casing depth required for a
private water well in Texas, unless local rules dictate otherwise?
(A) 10 feet
(B) 20 feet
(C) 50 feet
(D) 100 feet
Correct Answer: (B)
Rationale: Standard TDLR regulations require a minimum of 20 feet
of cemented surface casing.
Q7. Who is authorized to plug/seal an abandoned water well in
Texas?
(A) Any contractor
(B) Licensed Water Well Driller
(C) Plumber
(D) Property owner without experience
Correct Answer: (B)
Rationale: Only licensed water well drillers (or pump installers under
specific permits) may plug wells under TAC Chapter 76.
Q8. What penalty can be imposed for drilling a water well in Texas
without a valid license?
(A) Warning only
(B) Administrative fines, civil suits, and potential criminal
misdemeanor charges
(C) Tax penalties
(D) None
Correct Answer: (B)
Rationale: Unlicensed drilling violates Texas Occupations Code
Chapter 1902, leading to civil and administrative enforcement
actions.
, Q9. How many continuing education hours (CEUs) are required for
license renewal per cycle?
(A) 2 hours
(B) 4 hours
(C) 8 hours
(D) 12 hours
Correct Answer: (B)
Rationale: Licensees must complete 4 hours of TDLR-approved
continuing education per renewal cycle.
Q10. What is the minimum distance between a water well and an
animal feedlot or livestock yard?
(A) 25 feet
(B) 50 feet
(C) 100 feet
(D) 200 feet
Correct Answer: (C)
Rationale: A 100-foot isolation distance is required from animal
feedlots and manure storage.
Q11. What number must be permanently stamped or welded onto
the well casing or surface plate?
(A) Driller's license number
(B) State Well Report Number (WRA)
(C) Tax ID
(D) Pump serial number
Correct Answer: (B)
Rationale: TDLR requires the State Well Report Number to be
affixed to the well casing for tracking.
