Notice to Iowa Certified Well Contractors
The Iowa DNR understands that many well contractor training events have been cancelled because of the Coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak.
In light of the current circumstances and consistent with the Governor's Emergency Proclamation dated 3/22/2020, the Iowa DNR is waiving the requirement under 567 IAC 82.11(2) that Iowa DNR Certified Well Contractors must meet the minimum CEU requirements under 567 IAC 82.11(1) prior to the 2020 renewal of certifications for Well Drillers and/or Pump Installers.
This means Certified Well Contractors who are currently certified by the DNR as Well Drillers and/or Pump Installers can renew their certification(s) even if they have not earned the minimum number of contact hours required under 567 IAC 82.11(1).
Additional information regarding the CEU waiver can be found at the following web link.
2020 Well Contractor Certification CEU Waiver
To check how many CEU contact hours have been submitted by training entities on your behalf or by you, please use the following web link. Iowa DNR Operator Certification Database
Information About Well Contractor Certification
In Iowa, all work that meets the definition of "well services" as found in Iowa law and Iowa Administrative Code must be performed by an Iowa DNR Certified Well Contractor, or by the land owner.
The goal of the Iowa DNR Well Contractor Certification program is to help ensure the groundwater professionals you hire meet minimum levels of work experience and knowledge. This experience and knowledge requirement means that the individual performing the work understands what basic protections are required by law and rule, and how their work impacts the safety of the drinking water supplies used by citizens, communities, and industry.
If the land owner hires anyone to perform the well services, the individual must be an Iowa DNR Certified Well Contractor and the certified contractor must be on-site at all times any well service is taking place.
If a land owner performs their own well services, the owner must physically perform the work themselves - they cannot hire, pay or barter with another individual or non-certified company to perform the actual well service. Landowners must follow the same well laws and rules that certified professional well contractor follow.
The term "well services" includes but is not limited to:
- All well construction, reconstruction, renovation and rehabilitation of both private and public water supply wells - including irrigation wells,
- All water well test holes and test wells, installation of dewatering wells, and all wells needed for groundwater monitoring and observation,
- Installation of vertical or horizontal ground heat exchange (GHEX)loop borehole systems,
- And installation and repair of all well pumping and distribution systems - including but not limited to pressure tanks and pressure switches,
- Plugging of all types of water wells.
For additional information regarding the definition of "well services" along with the other well program definitions found in the Iowa well rules, please see the Private Well Program
definitions document.