colorado water well drilling license

2023-06-28

To ensure the conservation of water resources in Colorado, the Colorado Division of Water Resources (DWR) administers licensing for well drilling within the state. This regulatory body is tasked with the oversight of constructing, operating, and eventually abandoning water wells.

In Colorado, anyone wishing to delve into the depths of the earth in order to tap into an underground body of water must obtain a water well drilling license from the DWR Water Well Drilling Program. This specialized agency issues licenses to those who possess the proper qualifications in this area.

In order to qualify for a water well drilling authorization, contractors must fulfill certain criteria which include:

All applicants must be 18 or older, possess a high school diploma or its equivalent, and hold a valid driver’s license before being considered for this position.

A minimum of two years in the water well drilling field is required for eligibility.

Achieving passage of the examinations mandated by the DWR entails knowledge in a wide variety of subject matters. These include Colorado regulations and standards related to water well drilling, methods and machines associated with the same, construction of water wells, and abandonment of such fixtures.

To be officially recognized as a contractor by the DWR, any individual who has passed the written exam must submit an application to the agency along with the necessary credentials. These include:

A $200 fee for one to lodge an application. A surety of $500, along with a certificate of insurance, is necessary to complete the procedure.

After submission of all necessary paperwork to the Department of Water Resources, a contractor will receive a permit for water well drilling.

Every 365 days, water well drilling practitioners must shell out $200 to keep their license current. Without this yearly renewal, their authorisation will expire.

The privilege of digging wells for a spectrum of applications—domestic, industrial, commercial, irrigation and municipal—belongs to those who possess a water well drilling license.

The DWR is able to conduct inspections of water wells without warning and can obligate license holders to navigate any breaches quickly with corrective action.

The Colorado Department of Natural Resources can permanently or temporarily withdraw a water well drilling certificate if the holder is spotted to have broken the state’s water well drilling ordinances or principles.