WASHINGTON HYDROGEOLOGIST LICENSING EXAMINATION:
200 HIGH-YIELD EXAM QUESTIONS WITH DETAILED
RATIONALES
Question 1
Which Washington statute governs water well construction and
establishes standards for well contractors?
A) RCW 90.03
B) RCW 18.104
C) RCW 90.44
D) RCW 43.21
Answer: B
Rationale: RCW 18.104 is the Water Well Construction Act, which
establishes standards for well construction, licensing of well
contractors, and reporting requirements. RCW 90.03 is the Water Code
(surface water), and RCW 90.44 is the Groundwater Code. This act
protects groundwater resources through proper well construction,
maintenance, and decommissioning.
Question 2
Under RCW 90.44.050, a groundwater permit is NOT required for daily
withdrawals up to:
A) 1,000 gallons per day
B) 3,000 gallons per day
,C) 5,000 gallons per day
D) 10,000 gallons per day
Answer: C
Rationale: RCW 90.44.050 provides a permit exemption for
groundwater withdrawals not exceeding 5,000 gallons per day for
specified beneficial uses, including domestic use, stock watering, and
irrigation of up to one-half acre. This is commonly known as the
"permit-exempt well" provision.
Question 3
Which WAC chapter regulates the licensing of well contractors and
operators in Washington?
A) WAC 173-160
B) WAC 173-162
C) WAC 173-340
D) WAC 246-290
Answer: B
Rationale: WAC 173-162 regulates the licensing of well contractors and
operators. WAC 173-160 governs well construction standards, WAC 173-
340 is the Model Toxics Control Act (MTCA) cleanup regulation, and
WAC 246-290 covers Group A public water supplies.
Question 4
,The Washington hydrogeologist specialty license requires that an
applicant first holds:
A) A current civil engineering license
B) A current Washington state geologist license
C) A master's degree in hydrogeology
D) A water rights permit
Answer: B
Rationale: WAC 308-15-057 establishes that eligibility for the
hydrogeologist specialty examination requires holding a current
Washington state geologist license before any specialty application can
proceed. Without this foundational credential, the Board cannot
consider a hydrogeologist specialty application regardless of other
qualifications.
Question 5
How often is the Washington Hydrogeologist Licensing Examination
typically administered?
A) Once every year
B) Twice per year
C) Every two years
D) Quarterly
Answer: B
Rationale: The Washington Hydrogeologist Licensing Examination is
offered two times a year, on the same dates as the ASBOG exam. This
, schedule allows candidates to coordinate their specialty exam with the
national geology examinations.
Question 6
Which of the following is the primary energy source that drives the
hydrologic cycle?
A) Geothermal heat from the Earth's core
B) Solar radiation
C) Tidal forces from the moon
D) Radioactive decay in the mantle
Answer: B
Rationale: The hydrologic cycle is primarily driven by solar radiation,
which provides the energy for evaporation from oceans, lakes, and
other water bodies, as well as for transpiration from plants. This energy
input sustains the continuous circulation of water through the
atmosphere, land, and oceans.
Question 7
In hydrogeology, what does the term "baseflow" refer to?
A) The portion of streamflow derived from groundwater discharge
B) The peak flow during a storm event
C) The flow velocity at the base of an aquifer
D) The minimum flow required to maintain aquatic habitat
Answer: A
200 HIGH-YIELD EXAM QUESTIONS WITH DETAILED
RATIONALES
Question 1
Which Washington statute governs water well construction and
establishes standards for well contractors?
A) RCW 90.03
B) RCW 18.104
C) RCW 90.44
D) RCW 43.21
Answer: B
Rationale: RCW 18.104 is the Water Well Construction Act, which
establishes standards for well construction, licensing of well
contractors, and reporting requirements. RCW 90.03 is the Water Code
(surface water), and RCW 90.44 is the Groundwater Code. This act
protects groundwater resources through proper well construction,
maintenance, and decommissioning.
Question 2
Under RCW 90.44.050, a groundwater permit is NOT required for daily
withdrawals up to:
A) 1,000 gallons per day
B) 3,000 gallons per day
,C) 5,000 gallons per day
D) 10,000 gallons per day
Answer: C
Rationale: RCW 90.44.050 provides a permit exemption for
groundwater withdrawals not exceeding 5,000 gallons per day for
specified beneficial uses, including domestic use, stock watering, and
irrigation of up to one-half acre. This is commonly known as the
"permit-exempt well" provision.
Question 3
Which WAC chapter regulates the licensing of well contractors and
operators in Washington?
A) WAC 173-160
B) WAC 173-162
C) WAC 173-340
D) WAC 246-290
Answer: B
Rationale: WAC 173-162 regulates the licensing of well contractors and
operators. WAC 173-160 governs well construction standards, WAC 173-
340 is the Model Toxics Control Act (MTCA) cleanup regulation, and
WAC 246-290 covers Group A public water supplies.
Question 4
,The Washington hydrogeologist specialty license requires that an
applicant first holds:
A) A current civil engineering license
B) A current Washington state geologist license
C) A master's degree in hydrogeology
D) A water rights permit
Answer: B
Rationale: WAC 308-15-057 establishes that eligibility for the
hydrogeologist specialty examination requires holding a current
Washington state geologist license before any specialty application can
proceed. Without this foundational credential, the Board cannot
consider a hydrogeologist specialty application regardless of other
qualifications.
Question 5
How often is the Washington Hydrogeologist Licensing Examination
typically administered?
A) Once every year
B) Twice per year
C) Every two years
D) Quarterly
Answer: B
Rationale: The Washington Hydrogeologist Licensing Examination is
offered two times a year, on the same dates as the ASBOG exam. This
, schedule allows candidates to coordinate their specialty exam with the
national geology examinations.
Question 6
Which of the following is the primary energy source that drives the
hydrologic cycle?
A) Geothermal heat from the Earth's core
B) Solar radiation
C) Tidal forces from the moon
D) Radioactive decay in the mantle
Answer: B
Rationale: The hydrologic cycle is primarily driven by solar radiation,
which provides the energy for evaporation from oceans, lakes, and
other water bodies, as well as for transpiration from plants. This energy
input sustains the continuous circulation of water through the
atmosphere, land, and oceans.
Question 7
In hydrogeology, what does the term "baseflow" refer to?
A) The portion of streamflow derived from groundwater discharge
B) The peak flow during a storm event
C) The flow velocity at the base of an aquifer
D) The minimum flow required to maintain aquatic habitat
Answer: A
