Chapter NR 146

NR 146.02(8) (8) “Water system” means the water supply, storage, treatment facilities and all structures and piping by which water is provided.

NR 146.02(9) (9) “Well” has the meaning specified in s. 280.01 (6), Stats.

NR 146.02 Note Note: Section 280.01 (6), Stats., defines “well” to mean an excavation or opening into the ground made by digging, boring, drilling, driving or other methods for the purpose of obtaining groundwater for human consumption.

NR 146.02(9g) (9g) “Well and pressure system” means the water supply and pump installation upstream of a building control valve or pressure tank and including any pressure tank.

NR 146.02(9r) (9r) “Well driller registrant” means a person registered to engage in the business of water well drilling in Wisconsin under the supervision of a licensed individual water well driller.

NR 146.02(10) (10) “Well drilling” has the meaning specified in s. 280.01 (8), Stats., and includes any activity which requires the use of a well drilling rig or similar equipment; or any activity which is conducted using a well drilling rig or similar equipment with the exception of the driving of points having pipe and casing smaller than three inches in diameter. Well drilling also includes constructing a well or performing any activity which changes the characteristics of a drilled well including constructing, reconstructing or deepening a well, sealing the annular space of a well, joining or welding together lengths of well casing pipe or liner pipe, installation of a liner, installing or replacing a screen, well rehabilitation, hydrofracturing, blasting and chemical conditioning.

NR 146.02 Note Note: Section 280.01 (8), Stats., defines “Well drilling” to mean the industry and procedure employed in obtaining groundwater from a well by digging, boring, drilling, driving or other methods but not including the driving of points for the purpose of obtaining ground water. It shall also include all construction work and installation of well casings in said well involved therein for the protection of such well water against pollution.

NR 146.02 History History: Cr. Register, December, 1988, No. 396, eff. 1-1-89; corrections in (5), (9), and (10) made under s. 13.92 (4) (b) 7., Stats., Register March 2011 No. 663; correction in (1) made under s. 13.92 (4) (b) 6., Stats., Register February 2012, No. 674; CR 13-096: renum. (1) to (1s), cr. (1g), am. (3), (4), cr. (4d) to (4h), (7g), CR 13-099: renum. (1) to (1s), cr. (1e), (1g), am. (3), cr. (3m), am. (4), cr. (4b) to (4v), r. and recr. (5), am. (7), cr. (7g), (7r), am. (9), cr. (9g), (9r), am. (10) Register September 2014 No. 705, eff. 10-1-14; correction in numbering in (1s), (4b) to (4m), and (7g) made under s. 13.92 (4) (b) 1., Stats., Register September 2014 No. 705; 2015 Wis. Act 197 ss. 33, 34 Register April 2016 No. 724; CR 18-095: r. and recr. (4r) Register June 2020 No. 774, eff. 7-1-20.

NR 146.03 NR 146.03 License or registration.

NR 146.03(1) (1) Required. No individual or person may engage in the business of water well drilling, heat exchange drilling, pump installing or filling and sealing, or property transfer well inspections, or hold himself, herself or itself out as or act temporarily or otherwise as a water well driller, heat exchange driller, or pump installer or well or drillhole filler and sealer, or property transfer well inspector in the state of Wisconsin without first obtaining either a water well driller, heat exchange driller, or pump installer license or a water well driller, heat exchange driller, or pump installer registration from the department.

NR 146.03(2) (2) Exceptions.

NR 146.03(2)(a) (a) A Wisconsin individual water well driller license is not required for any of the following:

NR 146.03(2)(a)1. 1. An individual performing water well drilling on real estate owned or leased by that individual, but the well and the work done on the well shall comply with the applicable laws and rules and with any plans, specifications, variances and approvals approved by the department.

NR 146.03(2)(a)2. 2. Competent sanitary engineers preparing plans and specifications or supervising the installation of water wells by a licensed individual water well driller or a registered water well drilling business for which the engineer prepared plans and specifications.

NR 146.03(2)(a)3. 3. Superintendents of waterworks systems preparing plans and specifications or supervising the installation of water wells by a licensed individual water well driller or a registered well drilling business, for which the superintendent is responsible.

NR 146.03(2)(a)4. 4. An individual who is employed by a licensed individual water well driller.

NR 146.03(2)(a)5. 5. An individual who is employed by a person that is registered as a business to perform water well drilling.

NR 146.03(2)(a)6. 6. An individual constructing nonpotable water supply wells.

NR 146.03(2)(b) (b) A Wisconsin water well driller business registration is not required for any of the following:

NR 146.03(2)(b)1. 1. An individual who is a licensed water well driller who does not operate as corporation, partnership or LLC.

NR 146.03(2)(b)2. 2. An individual performing water well drilling on real estate owned or leased by that individual, but the well and the work done on the well shall comply with the applicable laws and rules and with any plans, specifications, variances and approvals approved by the department.

NR 146.03(2)(b)3. 3. Competent sanitary engineers preparing plans and specifications or supervising the installation of water wells by a licensed individual water well driller or a registered water well drilling business for which the engineer prepared plans and specifications.

NR 146.03(2)(b)4. 4. Superintendents of waterworks systems preparing plans and specifications or supervising the installation of wells by a licensed individual water well driller or a registered well drilling business, for which the superintendent is responsible.

NR 146.03(2)(b)5. 5. An individual who is employed by a licensed individual water well driller.

NR 146.03(2)(b)6. 6. An individual who is employed by a person that is registered as a business to perform water well drilling.

NR 146.03(2)(b)7. 7. A person constructing nonpotable water supply wells.

NR 146.03(2)(c) (c) A Wisconsin individual pump installer license is not required for any of the following:

NR 146.03(2)(c)1. 1. Competent sanitary engineers preparing plans and specifications or supervising the installation of water systems by a licensed individual pump installer or registered pump installing business, for which the engineer prepared plans and specifications.

NR 146.03(2)(c)2. 2. Superintendents of waterworks systems preparing plans and specifications or supervising the installation of water systems by a licensed individual pump installer or registered pump installing business, for which the superintendent is responsible.

NR 146.03(2)(c)3. 3. An individual who is employed by a licensed individual pump installer.

NR 146.03(2)(c)4. 4. An individual who is employed by a person that is registered as a business to perform pump installing.

NR 146.03(2)(c)5. 5. A person installing pumps in nonpotable water supply wells.

NR 146.03(2)(c)6. 6. A welder installing a welded pitless adapter or pitless unit under contract with or employed by a licensed individual pump installer or registered pump installing business.

NR 146.03(2)(d) (d) A Wisconsin pump installer business registration is not required for any of the following:

NR 146.03(2)(d)1. 1. An individual who is a licensed pump installer who does not operate as corporation, partnership or LLC.

NR 146.03(2)(d)2. 2. Competent sanitary engineers preparing plans and specifications or supervising the installation of water systems by a licensed individual pump installer or registered pump installing business, for which the engineer prepared plans and specifications.

NR 146.03(2)(d)3. 3. Superintendents of waterworks systems preparing plans and specifications or supervising the installation of water systems by a licensed individual pump installer or registered pump installing business, for which the superintendent is responsible.

NR 146.03(2)(d)4. 4. An individual who is employed by a licensed individual pump installer.

NR 146.03(2)(d)5. 5. An individual who is employed by a person that is registered as a business to perform pump installing.

NR 146.03(2)(d)6. 6. A person installing pumps in nonpotable water supply wells.

NR 146.03(2)(d)7. 7. A welder installing a welded pitless adapter or pitless unit under contract with or employed by a licensed individual pump installer or registered pump installing business.

NR 146.03(2)(e) (e) A pump installer license or registration is not required for a licensed water well driller or registered water well drilling business if the licensed well driller or the employee of a registered water well drilling business installs a temporary test pump for the purpose of determining well capacity or water quality or installs or replaces a well cap or seal.

NR 146.03(2m) (2m) Exceptions for heat exchange licensing and registration.

NR 146.03(2m)(a) (a) A Wisconsin individual heat exchange driller license is not required for any of the following:

NR 146.03(2m)(a)1. 1. An individual performing heat exchange drilling on real estate owned or leased by that individual, but the heat exchange work shall comply with the applicable laws and rules and with any plans, specifications, variances and approvals approved by the department.

NR 146.03(2m)(a)2. 2. An individual who is employed by a licensed individual heat exchange driller.

NR 146.03(2m)(a)3. 3. An individual who is employed by a person that is registered as a business to perform heat exchange drilling.

NR 146.03(2m)(b) (b) A Wisconsin water well driller business registration is not required for any of the following:

NR 146.03(2m)(b)1. 1. An individual who is a licensed heat exchange driller who does not operate as a corporation, partnership or LLC.

NR 146.03(2m)(b)2. 2. An individual performing heat exchange drilling on real estate owned or leased by that individual, but the well and the work done on the well shall comply with the applicable laws and rules and with any plans, specifications, variances and approvals approved by the department.

NR 146.03(2m)(b)3. 3. An individual who is employed by a licensed individual water well driller.

NR 146.03(2m)(b)4. 4. An individual who is employed by a person that is registered as a business to perform heat exchange drilling.

NR 146.03(3) (3) Performance standards. All water well drilling, heat exchange drilling, pump installing, filling and sealing and property transfer well inspections shall comply with the applicable laws and rules and with any plans, specifications, variances, and approvals approved by the department.

NR 146.03(4) (4) Expiration. All licenses and registrations expire on December 31 and are not transferable.

NR 146.03 History History: Cr. Register, December, 1988, No. 396, eff. 1-1-89; CR 13-096: am. (title), (1), cr. (2m), am. (3), CR 13-099: am. (title), (1), r. and recr. (2), am. (3), cr. (4) Register September 2014 No. 705, eff. 10-1-14; s. 35.17 correction in (1) and (3) Register September 2014 No. 705; 2015 Wis. Act 197 s. 35 Register April 2016 No. 724.

NR 146.04 NR 146.04 Initial applications for licenses or registrations.

NR 146.04(1) (1) General requirements.

NR 146.04(1)(a) (a) All new license and registration applications shall be submitted on forms specified by the department for this purpose. An applicant for a water well drilling rig operator registration shall be at least 18 years old. An applicant for an individual water well driller license shall be at least 20 years old. An applicant for a heat exchange drilling rig operator registration shall be at least 18 years old. An applicant for an individual heat exchange driller license shall be at least 20 years old.

NR 146.04 Note Note: Pursuant to 29CFR 570.58 and Hazardous Occupations Order #7, persons under the age of eighteen are not lawfully permitted to operate a power-driven hoisting apparatus.

NR 146.04 Note Note: Specified application forms will require on-line submittal after development of necessary information technology and training during continuing education.

NR 146.04(1)(b) (b) All information on an application shall be complete, true and accurate. The department may request an applicant to provide proof of any information submitted on the application.

NR 146.04(1)(c) (c) The department shall conduct review of completed applications within 65 business days. Incomplete applications shall be returned to the applicant.

NR 146.04(1)(d) (d) The license or registration shall be effective on the date the license or registration is issued by the department and expires on December 31 of each year. Licensees and registrants shall inform the department no later than 15 business days after any changes in the information on the application submitted to the department, including any change in status or ability of the licensed supervisory individual water well driller, licensed individual supervisory heat exchange driller, or licensed supervisory individual pump installer to perform their supervisory responsibilities.

NR 146.04(1)(e) (e) A veteran may request a fee waiver for a first-time license or operator certificate in accordance with the veterans fee waiver program under s. 45.44, Stats.

NR 146.04(2) (2) Water well driller license. To be eligible for an individual water well driller license, an applicant shall meet all of the following requirements:

NR 146.04(2)(a) (a) Have 2 years of potable water well drilling experience, within the last 5 years, under the supervision of a Wisconsin licensed individual water well driller who provided direct supervision during the construction of the applicant’s first 10 wells listed on the application and at least general supervision on the remaining water wells drilled during the experience period. The name and address of the supervisory water well driller, the dates of apprenticeship and a description of the activities conducted shall be provided to the department.

NR 146.04(2)(b) (b) Have operated the drilling rig performing all the water well drilling activities during the drilling of at least 30 potable wells; or for large-diameter, potable community water supply wells, performed at least 1500 hours of well drilling activities as defined in s. NR 146.02 (10), in 2 years, a minimum of 10 wells or 750 hours each year. The water well drilling experience shall extend throughout the two- or three-year experience period. To fulfill this requirement, all wells drilled by the applicant during the experience period, including those not on the experience voucher, shall be constructed in accordance with all laws and rules and with any plans specifications, variances, and approvals approved by the department, including water samples and report submittal.

NR 146.04(2)(cm) (cm) For a period of three months, have provided the department with at least 24-hour notice before starting any water well drilling activities.

NR 146.04(2)(d) (d) Submit a completed application. The water well driller license application shall include the name, address and signature of the supervisory water well driller, the dates during which a water well drilling rig operator registration was held, a description of the water well drilling activities performed, the names of well owners, their addresses and phone numbers, the legal descriptions of the locations of the wells, the dates the wells were constructed, the types and hours of activities for which the supervisory water well driller was present, and a recent photo of the applicant operating a well drilling rig during the construction of a water well in which his or her face can be seen clearly.

NR 146.04(2)(dm) (dm) If the applicant holds a current heat exchange driller license, the applicant is not required to submit an additional fee to become a licensed water well driller.

NR 146.04(2)(e) (e) Have no record of any unlicensed water well drilling activities during the last five years.

NR 146.04(2)(f) (f) Have no unresolved violations, judgments, court or administrative orders or settlements from previous water well drilling, pump installing, well filling and sealing or property transfer well inspection activities in Wisconsin and have no violations that were repeated following notice from the department, and have no outstanding well construction reports, water samples or well filling and sealing reports from the past five years.

NR 146.04(2)(g) (g) Have held a water well drilling rig operator registration during the two- to three-year experience period and attended the department sponsored or department sanctioned continuing education for well drillers during the two- to three-year experience period.

NR 146.04(2)(h) (h) Except as provided in par. (j), for applications submitted after January 1, 2020, have completed online, classroom or hands-on coursework approved or sponsored by the department in each of the following subject areas for the specified number of hours:

NR 146.04(2)(h)1. 1. Cement or Bentonite Grouting of Wells — 6 hours

NR 146.04(2)(h)2. 2. Drilling Fluids — 6 hours

NR 146.04(2)(h)3. 3. Geology of Wisconsin — 3 hours

NR 146.04(2)(h)4. 4. The Well Codes — 6 hours

NR 146.04(2)(h)5. 5. Well Filling & Sealing — 3 hours

NR 146.04(2)(h)6. 6. Safety & First Aid — 3 hours

NR 146.04(2)(h)7. 7. Welding — 6 hours

NR 146.04(2)(i) (i) After fulfilling pars. (a) to (h) and receiving a notice of eligibility from the department, demonstrate the ability, understanding, and competency to engage in the business of water well drilling in Wisconsin by passing an exam administered under s. NR 146.045.

NR 146.04 Note Note: Exam topics may include scope of department rules, water well construction, reconstruction, rehabilitation and locational requirements as well as sampling and reporting requirements. The department will solicit exam topics and questions from licensed water well drillers.

NR 146.04(2)(j) (j) In lieu of completing the coursework under par. (h) 2., an applicant may pass the NGWA exams on Rotary Mud and Rotary Air Drilling.

NR 146.04(2)(k) (k) Submit the license application fee of $50.

NR 146.04(2)(L) (L) Meet with a department staff member to review and sign a list of compliance expectations. The applicant will receive the license at the conclusion of the meeting.

NR 146.04(2m) (2m) Void applications; water well driller. If the applicant fails to take and pass the examination under sub. (2) (i) within 2 years of receiving a notice of eligibility from the department, the application becomes void.

NR 146.04(3) (3) Pump installer license. To be eligible for a pump installer license an individual applicant shall meet all of the following requirements:

NR 146.04(3)(a) (a) Have no unresolved violations, judgments, court or administrative orders or settlements from previous water well drilling, pump installing, well filling and sealing or property transfer well inspection activities in Wisconsin, have no violations that were repeated following notice from the department and have no outstanding water samples or well filling and sealing reports from the past five years.