NV C-23 DRILLING WELLS CERTIFICATION
EXAMINATION TEST 2026 COMPLETE
QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS
◉ (M) When installing a tubular well in Quebec, what minimum
distance must be maintained between the well and a non-watertight
wastewater treatment system? Answer: A minimum distance of 30 ft
(9 meters) must be maintained between a tubular well and a non-
watertight wastewater treatment system, as specified in the
Regulation respecting groundwater catchment (L.R.Q., c. Q-2, r.1.3)
to prevent contamination of the groundwater.
◉ (D) A client needs a new water well for their rural property in
Quebec. The site has a high water table at 5 ft (1.5 meters) depth,
and bedrock at 15 ft (4.5 meters). Which well type would be most
appropriate and why? Answer: A tubular well would be most
appropriate because the bedrock is deep enough to allow proper
installation. The well casing should be anchored at least 6 inches (15
cm) into the rock, with proper sealing between the casing and the
rock to prevent surface water infiltration, according to installation
standards in the Regulation respecting groundwater catchment.
◉ (E) What does the term "static water level" refer to in well
construction? Answer: Static water level refers to the level at which
water stands in a well when no water is being taken from the aquifer,
measured as the distance from the ground surface to the water level
,in the well, and is an important baseline measurement recorded in
the drilling report.
◉ (M) A drilled well has a static water level of 50 ft (15.2 meters)
and a dynamic water level of 70 ft (21.3 meters) when pumping at
10 gal/min (37.8 l/min). What is the drawdown in this scenario?
Answer: The drawdown is 20 ft (6.1 meters), calculated as the
difference between the dynamic water level (70 ft/21.3 meters) and
the static water level (50 ft/15.2 meters). This measurement
indicates the well's response to pumping at the specified rate.
◉ (M) What information must be included in a well drilling report
according to Quebec regulations? Answer: A well drilling report
must include: location coordinates (latitude-longitude or UTM X and
Y using GPS), geological materials encountered, well construction
details (casing, screen, etc.), static water level, well development
methods used, pumping test results, and disinfection procedures
applied, as required by the Regulation respecting groundwater
catchment.
◉ (E) What is the purpose of well development after drilling is
complete? Answer: Well development is performed to clean the well
of drilling residues, remove fine particles from the aquifer around
the screen or intake zone, improve water flow into the well, and
maximize the well's efficiency and production capacity. This is an
essential practice to ensure optimal well performance.
,◉ (D) A tubular well is being drilled in an area where bedrock is
only 4 ft (1.2 meters) below ground surface. What special
construction requirements apply in Quebec? Answer: When bedrock
is less than 5 ft (1.5 meters) from the surface, the well must have
special sealing protection. The annular space around the casing
must be sealed with appropriate materials (bentonite or cement
grout) from the bedrock to the surface to prevent contamination, in
accordance with the Regulation respecting groundwater catchment.
◉ (M) During a pumping test on a newly installed well, what does
the specific capacity measurement indicate? Answer: Specific
capacity is the well yield per unit of drawdown, typically expressed
in gal/min/ft (l/min/m) of drawdown. It indicates the productivity
and efficiency of the well and helps determine the appropriate pump
size and long-term sustainable yield of the well.
◉ (E) What is a screen in a water well system and when is it
required? Answer: A screen is a filtering device attached to the
casing that allows water to enter while keeping out sand and gravel.
It is required when drilling in unconsolidated formations like sand
or gravel to prevent sediment from entering the well while allowing
water to flow in. The screen opening size must be selected based on
the granulometry of the surrounding formation.
◉ (M) What are the minimum required distances between a drilled
well and a watercourse in Quebec? Answer: A minimum distance of
50 ft (15 meters) must be maintained between a drilled well and a
, watercourse (stream, river, lake) according to the Regulation
respecting groundwater catchment (L.R.Q., c. Q-2, r.1.3) to protect
the well from potential contamination during flooding events.
◉ (D) A client's existing well needs to be abandoned and sealed. The
well is a 6-inch (152 mm) diameter tubular well drilled to 150 ft
(45.7 meters) depth. Describe the proper method for
decommissioning this well according to Quebec regulations. Answer:
To properly decommission the tubular well, first remove all
equipment from the well (pump, piping), then disinfect the well. The
well must be completely filled from bottom to top with impermeable
materials such as bentonite grout or cement-bentonite mixture to
prevent any vertical movement of water. The filling must be verified
for settlement and topped off if needed. A report of the
decommissioning must be prepared according to the Regulation
respecting groundwater catchment.
◉ (E) What is hydrofracturing in the context of well construction?
Answer: Hydrofracturing is a technique used to increase the yield of
low-producing wells by injecting water under high pressure into the
well to create or enlarge existing fractures in the bedrock formation,
thereby increasing water flow into the well. This technique must be
performed correctly to avoid contamination of the aquifer.
◉ (M) What is the purpose of the annular space in a drilled well
installation? Answer: The annular space is the gap between the well
casing and the drilled hole. Its purpose is to provide space for
EXAMINATION TEST 2026 COMPLETE
QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS
◉ (M) When installing a tubular well in Quebec, what minimum
distance must be maintained between the well and a non-watertight
wastewater treatment system? Answer: A minimum distance of 30 ft
(9 meters) must be maintained between a tubular well and a non-
watertight wastewater treatment system, as specified in the
Regulation respecting groundwater catchment (L.R.Q., c. Q-2, r.1.3)
to prevent contamination of the groundwater.
◉ (D) A client needs a new water well for their rural property in
Quebec. The site has a high water table at 5 ft (1.5 meters) depth,
and bedrock at 15 ft (4.5 meters). Which well type would be most
appropriate and why? Answer: A tubular well would be most
appropriate because the bedrock is deep enough to allow proper
installation. The well casing should be anchored at least 6 inches (15
cm) into the rock, with proper sealing between the casing and the
rock to prevent surface water infiltration, according to installation
standards in the Regulation respecting groundwater catchment.
◉ (E) What does the term "static water level" refer to in well
construction? Answer: Static water level refers to the level at which
water stands in a well when no water is being taken from the aquifer,
measured as the distance from the ground surface to the water level
,in the well, and is an important baseline measurement recorded in
the drilling report.
◉ (M) A drilled well has a static water level of 50 ft (15.2 meters)
and a dynamic water level of 70 ft (21.3 meters) when pumping at
10 gal/min (37.8 l/min). What is the drawdown in this scenario?
Answer: The drawdown is 20 ft (6.1 meters), calculated as the
difference between the dynamic water level (70 ft/21.3 meters) and
the static water level (50 ft/15.2 meters). This measurement
indicates the well's response to pumping at the specified rate.
◉ (M) What information must be included in a well drilling report
according to Quebec regulations? Answer: A well drilling report
must include: location coordinates (latitude-longitude or UTM X and
Y using GPS), geological materials encountered, well construction
details (casing, screen, etc.), static water level, well development
methods used, pumping test results, and disinfection procedures
applied, as required by the Regulation respecting groundwater
catchment.
◉ (E) What is the purpose of well development after drilling is
complete? Answer: Well development is performed to clean the well
of drilling residues, remove fine particles from the aquifer around
the screen or intake zone, improve water flow into the well, and
maximize the well's efficiency and production capacity. This is an
essential practice to ensure optimal well performance.
,◉ (D) A tubular well is being drilled in an area where bedrock is
only 4 ft (1.2 meters) below ground surface. What special
construction requirements apply in Quebec? Answer: When bedrock
is less than 5 ft (1.5 meters) from the surface, the well must have
special sealing protection. The annular space around the casing
must be sealed with appropriate materials (bentonite or cement
grout) from the bedrock to the surface to prevent contamination, in
accordance with the Regulation respecting groundwater catchment.
◉ (M) During a pumping test on a newly installed well, what does
the specific capacity measurement indicate? Answer: Specific
capacity is the well yield per unit of drawdown, typically expressed
in gal/min/ft (l/min/m) of drawdown. It indicates the productivity
and efficiency of the well and helps determine the appropriate pump
size and long-term sustainable yield of the well.
◉ (E) What is a screen in a water well system and when is it
required? Answer: A screen is a filtering device attached to the
casing that allows water to enter while keeping out sand and gravel.
It is required when drilling in unconsolidated formations like sand
or gravel to prevent sediment from entering the well while allowing
water to flow in. The screen opening size must be selected based on
the granulometry of the surrounding formation.
◉ (M) What are the minimum required distances between a drilled
well and a watercourse in Quebec? Answer: A minimum distance of
50 ft (15 meters) must be maintained between a drilled well and a
, watercourse (stream, river, lake) according to the Regulation
respecting groundwater catchment (L.R.Q., c. Q-2, r.1.3) to protect
the well from potential contamination during flooding events.
◉ (D) A client's existing well needs to be abandoned and sealed. The
well is a 6-inch (152 mm) diameter tubular well drilled to 150 ft
(45.7 meters) depth. Describe the proper method for
decommissioning this well according to Quebec regulations. Answer:
To properly decommission the tubular well, first remove all
equipment from the well (pump, piping), then disinfect the well. The
well must be completely filled from bottom to top with impermeable
materials such as bentonite grout or cement-bentonite mixture to
prevent any vertical movement of water. The filling must be verified
for settlement and topped off if needed. A report of the
decommissioning must be prepared according to the Regulation
respecting groundwater catchment.
◉ (E) What is hydrofracturing in the context of well construction?
Answer: Hydrofracturing is a technique used to increase the yield of
low-producing wells by injecting water under high pressure into the
well to create or enlarge existing fractures in the bedrock formation,
thereby increasing water flow into the well. This technique must be
performed correctly to avoid contamination of the aquifer.
◉ (M) What is the purpose of the annular space in a drilled well
installation? Answer: The annular space is the gap between the well
casing and the drilled hole. Its purpose is to provide space for
