2010 Wisconsin Code
Chapter 280. Pure drinking water.
280.15 Well drilling and pump installing; registration; licensing; qualifications; fee.

280.15

280.15 Well drilling and pump installing; registration; licensing; qualifications; fee.

280.15(1)

(1) Business registration.

280.15(1)(a)

(a) Registration requirement. No person may engage in the business of well drilling or pump installing in this state unless the person obtains registration under this paragraph as a well drilling business or pump installing business, except as follows:

280.15(1)(a)1.

1. An individual who is a licensed well driller or a licensed pump installer is not required to obtain registration.

280.15(1)(a)2.

2. An individual who is employed by or works under contract with a licensed well driller or a licensed pump installer is not required to obtain registration.

280.15(1)(a)3.

3. An individual who is employed by or works under contract with a person who is registered under this paragraph is not required to obtain registration.

280.15(1)(a)4.

4. An individual to whom sub. (4) or s. 280.19 applies is not required to obtain registration.

280.15(1)(am)

(am) Prerequisite. The department may not grant registration under par. (a) to a person to engage in the business of well drilling unless the person is a licensed well driller, a licensed well driller has an ownership interest in the business, or the person employs or contracts with a licensed well driller. The department may not grant registration under par. (a) to a person to engage in the business of pump installing unless the person is a licensed pump installer, a licensed pump installer has an ownership interest in the business, or the person employs or contracts with a licensed pump installer.

280.15(1)(b)

(b) Application. A person who seeks to register a well drilling business or pump installing business shall apply to the department for registration of each place of business or retail outlet he or she operates as a well drilling business, pump installing business, or both, upon forms prepared by the department for this purpose. The application shall be accompanied by a registration fee for each place of business or retail outlet included in the application.

280.15(1)(c)

(c) Renewal. In order to retain registration as a well drilling business or pump installing business a person shall apply for registration renewal and pay the required registration fees annually on or before January 1.

280.15(1)(d)

(d) Registration fee. The fees required for registration application or annual renewal are as follows:

280.15(1)(d)1.

1. Well drilling business, $50.

280.15(1)(d)2.

2. Pump installing business, $25.

280.15(1)(d)3.

3. Well drilling business and pump installing business, $75.

280.15(1)(e)

(e) Late fees. A person who files an application for registration renewal or who fails to pay the required annual registration fees after January 1 shall pay a late penalty of $15.

280.15(1)(f)

(f) Expiration. All registrations issued under this subsection expire on December 31 of each year and are not transferable.

280.15(2m)

(2m) Well driller and pump installer licensing.

280.15(2m)(a)

(a) Application. An individual who seeks a well driller or pump installer license shall apply to the department on a form prepared by the department. The individual shall include the fee specified in par. (c) with the application.

280.15(2m)(b)

(b) Renewal. In order to retain his or her license as a well driller or pump installer an individual shall comply with requirements for continuing education promulgated by the department by rule and shall apply for license renewal and pay the required license fees under par. (c) annually on or before January 1.

280.15(2m)(c)

(c) Fees. The license fees required for license application or annual renewal are as follows:

280.15(2m)(c)1.

1. Well driller, $50.

280.15(2m)(c)2.

2. Pump installer, $25.

280.15(2m)(d)

(d) Late fees. An individual who files an application for license renewal or pays the required annual fees after January 1 shall pay a late penalty of $15.

280.15(2m)(e)

(e) Prerequisites for pump installer license. The department may not issue a pump installer license unless the applicant demonstrates competency in pump installing by passing an examination administered by the department.

280.15(2m)(f)

(f) Prerequisites for well driller license. The department may not issue a well driller license unless all of the following apply:

280.15(2m)(f)1.

1. The applicant demonstrates competency in well drilling by passing an examination administered by the department.

280.15(2m)(f)2.

2. Except as provided in par. (g), the applicant has been a registered drilling rig operator for at least 2 years within the 5 years before applying, has complied with training and continuing education requirements under sub. (3g), and has the well drilling experience required by the department by rule.

280.15(2m)(g)

(g) Exceptions.

280.15(2m)(g)1.

1. The department may issue a well driller license to an applicant who does not comply with par. (f) 2. if the applicant complies with par. (f) 1. and holds a well driller license in good standing from another state and the department determines that the other state has laws and rules governing well drilling and licensing of well drillers that are substantially similar to this state's laws and rules.

280.15(2m)(g)2.

2. The department shall establish alternative requirements to par. (f) 2. for applicants who have gained well drilling experience before June 1, 2008.

280.15(3g)

(3g) Drilling rig operator registration.

280.15(3g)(a)

(a) Application. An individual who seeks registration as a drilling rig operator shall apply to the department on a form prepared by the department. The individual shall include a fee of $25.

280.15(3g)(b)

(b) Renewal. In order to retain registration as a drilling rig operator an individual shall complete training approved by the department and comply with requirements for continuing education promulgated by the department by rule and shall apply for registration renewal and pay a fee of $25 annually on or before January 1.

280.15(3g)(d)

(d) Late fees. An individual who files an application for registration renewal or who pays the required annual fee after January 1 shall pay a late penalty of $15.

280.15(3r)

(3r) Supervision.

280.15(3r)(a)

(a) Requirement. Except as provided in par. (b) and sub. (4), an individual who is not a licensed well driller or a registered drilling rig operator may only engage in well drilling if the individual is under the supervision of a licensed well driller or a registered drilling rig operator who is on the site of the well drilling.

280.15(3r)(b)

(b) Exception. Paragraph (a) does not apply to an individual performing well drilling of a public well for a local governmental unit if the individual applies for registration under sub. (3g) no later than 14 days after the day on which the individual begins to perform the well drilling.

280.15(4)

(4) Work on own real estate. No person is required to obtain a registration or license under this section for driving, digging or otherwise obtaining groundwater supply on real estate owned or leased by that person, but the well and the work done on the well shall comply with the law and the rules promulgated by the department.

280.15 - ANNOT.

History: 1983 a. 27; 1995 a. 227 s. 940; Stats. 1995 s. 280.15; 1999 a. 85; 2001 a. 107; 2005 a. 360.