Free water well driller’s examination Practice Questions

Sample Practice Questions

Try these 10 sample questions from the water well driller’s examination practice bank. Each includes the answer and explanation. Continue with the interactive practice above to review the full question set.

1. 1A Montana drilling company assigns a licensed water well driller to construct wells. What continuing employment relationship must that driller have?

   1. A. Employment by a licensed water well contractor
   2. B. Employment by the county health department
   3. C. Employment by a licensed monitoring-well constructor
   4. D. Employment directly by each well owner

   Answer: A

   Explanation: MCA 37-43-305(3)(e) requires "employment by a licensed water well contractor." The driller therefore must work for a licensed water well contractor.

   Reference: 37-43-305. Examination and qualifications, MCA — MCA 37-43-305(3)(e)

2. 2Why must sealing preserve natural barriers between aquifers?

   1. A. To prevent water-quality impairment and cascading flow between penetrated strata
   2. B. To increase the nominal casing diameter
   3. C. To shorten the required yield test
   4. D. To eliminate the need for a well screen

   Answer: A

   Explanation: ARM 36.21.654(1) requires preservation of barriers and sealing of strata that "might impair water quality or result in cascading water."

   Reference: BWWC_WRD__30Sept10 — ARM 36.21.654(1), pp. 30-31

3. 3Which material is a consolidated formation under Montana's well rules?

   1. A. Sandstone
   2. B. Loose sand
   3. C. Silt
   4. D. Uncemented gravel

   Answer: A

   Explanation: ARM 36.21.634(15) lists "basalt, granite, sandstone, shale, conglomerate, and limestone" as consolidated formations.

   Reference: BWWC_WRD__30Sept10 — ARM 36.21.634(15), p. 20

4. 4What action breaks formation material in cable-tool drilling?

   1. A. Repeatedly raising and dropping a heavy chisel bit
   2. B. Continuously rotating a drag bit under mud pressure
   3. C. Forcing a hollow auger flight into the formation
   4. D. Jetting grout through a tremie at the casing shoe

   Answer: A

   Explanation: USGS describes percussion drilling as "alternately raising and dropping a heavy weight equipped with a chisel bit."

   Reference: Usgs Ofr 80 44 — Well-Construction Methods, cable-tool method

5. 5The drilling rig is operating at a Montana water-well site. Who must be physically present to satisfy the rule's personal-supervision standard?

   1. A. A licensed water well contractor or licensed driller
   2. B. The property owner or the owner's agent
   3. C. A county sanitarian or licensed engineer
   4. D. A registered apprentice with one year of experience

   Answer: A

   Explanation: ARM 36.21.409 defines personal supervision to mean that "a licensed water well contractor or driller shall be present at the job site when the drilling rig is in operation."

   Reference: BWWC_WRD__30Sept10 — ARM 36.21.409(1), p. 15

6. 6A borehole enters a formation capable of yielding water or receiving recharge. What is that formation called?

   1. A. Aquifer
   2. B. Confining formation
   3. C. Annular seal
   4. D. Potentiometric surface

   Answer: A

   Explanation: ARM 36.21.634(4) defines an aquifer as "any geological formation which is capable of yielding water or is capable of recharge."

   Reference: BWWC_WRD__30Sept10 — ARM 36.21.634(4), p. 19

7. 7A formation sample consists of naturally occurring, noncemented sand and gravel. How is the formation classified?

   1. A. Unconsolidated
   2. B. Consolidated
   3. C. Confining
   4. D. Artesian

   Answer: A

   Explanation: ARM 36.21.634(38) defines an unconsolidated formation as "naturally occurring, noncemented materials including, but not limited to clay, sand, silt, and gravel."

   Reference: BWWC_WRD__30Sept10 — ARM 36.21.634(38), p. 22

8. 8What tool normally removes the slurry of broken formation and water from a cable-tool borehole?

   1. A. Bailer
   2. B. Tremie pipe
   3. C. Surge block
   4. D. Pressure transducer

   Answer: A

   Explanation: The USGS account says cable-tool action forms a slurry "that is removed with a bailer."

   Reference: Usgs Ofr 80 44 — Well-Construction Methods, cable-tool method

9. 9A driller leaves one contractor and starts with another. Within what period after the new employment must the driller notify the Montana board office?

   1. A. 5 days
   2. B. 10 days
   3. C. 30 days
   4. D. 60 days

   Answer: A

   Explanation: ARM 36.21.407(2) states, "The driller shall notify the board office in writing of change in responsible contractor within five days of new employment."

   Reference: BWWC_WRD__30Sept10 — ARM 36.21.407(2), p. 14

10. 10In groundwater terminology, which condition makes a water-bearing aquifer confined?

    1. A. It is bounded by material that transmits water much less readily
    2. B. Its water table is exposed directly to atmospheric pressure
    3. C. Its saturated thickness changes seasonally
    4. D. Its recharge area lies beside the wellhead

    Answer: A

    Explanation: Montana defines a confining formation as "a body of impermeable or distinctly less permeable material adjacent to one or more aquifers." Such material produces confinement.

    Reference: BWWC_WRD__30Sept10 — ARM 36.21.634(14), p. 20