Free Journeyman Well Driller – Water Supply Licensure Examination Practice Questions

Sample Practice Questions

Try these 10 sample questions from the Journeyman Well Driller – Water Supply Licensure Examination practice bank. Each includes the answer and explanation. Continue with the interactive practice above to review the full question set.

1. 1Which condition most clearly identifies a confined aquifer?

   1. A. The water-bearing unit is bounded by low-permeability material and water is under pressure
   2. B. Its upper surface is always exposed at land surface
   3. C. It contains water only immediately after rainfall
   4. D. Its water table is unaffected by pumping

   Answer: A

   Explanation: USGS states, "Groundwater in aquifers between layers of poorly permeable rock, such as clay or shale, may be confined under pressure." That confining geometry and pressure distinguish a confined aquifer.

   Reference: Aquifers and Groundwater | U.S. Geological Survey — Confined aquifers

2. 2A well pumps 30 gpm with 10 feet of drawdown. What is its specific capacity?

   1. A. 0.33 gpm per foot
   2. B. 3 gpm per foot
   3. C. 20 gpm per foot
   4. D. 300 gpm per foot

   Answer: B

   Explanation: USGS states, "Specific capacity is the yield per unit of drawdown and is determined by dividing the pumping rate at any time during the test by the drawdown at the same time." Thus 30 divided by 10 equals 3 gpm/ft.

   Reference: Usgs Wsp (2220) — Specific capacity equals yield divided by drawdown

3. 3Which activity is a recognized method of well development?

   1. A. Running a casing plumbness-and-alignment test
   2. B. Placing grout through a tremie pipe
   3. C. Selecting screen slot size by sieve analysis
   4. D. Surging the well to remove material blocking the screen

   Answer: D

   Explanation: COMAR states, "Well development means the process whereby a well is pumped, surged, bailed, airlifted, swabbed or jetted to remove any material that may be blocking the well screen or fractures within the borehole." Surging is therefore a recognized development method.

   Reference: .16 Construction Standards — General. | Library of Maryland Regulations — COMAR 26.04.04.16E(1)

4. 4What clothing practice reduces entanglement risk around rotating drilling equipment?

   1. A. Use hearing protection matched to the measured noise level
   2. B. Wear safety-toe footwear for falling-object hazards
   3. C. Use eye protection for flying particles
   4. D. Secure loose clothing, jewelry, and long hair

   Answer: D

   Explanation: OSHA states, "Loose clothing or long hair can be easily caught up in rotating parts." Securing clothing, jewelry, and hair directly controls that entanglement hazard.

   Reference: eTool : Woodworking - Machine Hazards - Rotary and Reciprocating Movements | Occupational Safety and Health Administration — Rotary movement precautions

5. 5Where is a submersible pump intended to operate?

   1. A. Inside the pressure tank's air chamber
   2. B. On a dry platform above the wellhead
   3. C. Below the water surface in the well
   4. D. In the horizontal discharge trench

   Answer: C

   Explanation: EPA states, "The pumping unit is placed inside the well casing and connected to a power source on the surface." A submersible unit operates below the water surface in the well.

   Reference: Learn About Private Water Wells | US EPA — Submersible pumps

6. 6Which dissolved ions are the principal causes of water hardness?

   1. A. Calcium and magnesium
   2. B. Chloride and nitrate
   3. C. Sodium and potassium
   4. D. Hydrogen and hydroxide

   Answer: A

   Explanation: USGS states, "The simple definition of water hardness is the amount of dissolved calcium and magnesium in the water." Calcium and magnesium are therefore the principal hardness ions.

   Reference: Hardness of Water | U.S. Geological Survey — Water hardness definition

7. 7What forms the upper boundary of an unconfined aquifer's saturated zone?

   1. A. A potentiometric contour only
   2. B. The water table
   3. C. The bottom of the well screen
   4. D. The top of bedrock in every case

   Answer: B

   Explanation: USGS states, "The upper surface of this zone of saturation is called the water table." That surface forms the upper boundary of an unconfined aquifer's saturated zone.

   Reference: Aquifers and Groundwater | U.S. Geological Survey — Water-table aquifers

8. 8Using a constant specific capacity of 2.5 gpm per foot and 40 feet of available drawdown, what is the estimated maximum yield?

   1. A. 42.5 gpm
   2. B. 16 gpm
   3. C. 100 gpm
   4. D. 160 gpm

   Answer: C

   Explanation: USGS states, "Specific capacity is the yield per unit of drawdown." Under the question's constant-ratio assumption, 2.5 gpm/ft multiplied by 40 ft equals 100 gpm.

   Reference: Usgs Wsp (2220) — Estimating yield from specific capacity and available drawdown

9. 9Under Maryland's well-development standard, which finished-water condition is required unless turbidity is caused by oxidation of naturally occurring dissolved iron or manganese?

   1. A. Turbidity below 10 NTU
   2. B. Turbidity below 25 NTU
   3. C. Turbidity below 5 NTU
   4. D. Turbidity below 50 NTU

   Answer: A

   Explanation: COMAR requires developed water to have "a turbidity of less than 10 NTU (nephelometric turbidity unit)." The rule supplies the stated naturally occurring iron-or-manganese oxidation exception.

   Reference: .16 Construction Standards — General. | Library of Maryland Regulations — COMAR 26.04.04.16E(5)(b)

10. 10Which footwear is most appropriate on a muddy drilling site with heavy materials?

    1. A. Safety-toe boots with slip-resistant soles
    2. B. Electrically conductive footwear for static-discharge control
    3. C. Chemical-resistant boots selected for corrosive-liquid exposure
    4. D. Electrical-hazard footwear selected for shock insulation

    Answer: A

    Explanation: OSHA states, "Construction workers should wear work shoes or boots with slip-resistant and puncture-resistant soles." It also calls for safety-toed footwear around heavy equipment or falling objects, so option A matches both stated site hazards.

    Reference: OSHA Construction Safety — Safety Checklists; Foot Protection