Free South Dakota Well Driller Licensing Examination Practice Questions

Sample Practice Questions

Try these 10 sample questions from the South Dakota Well Driller Licensing Examination practice bank. Each includes the answer and explanation. Continue with the interactive practice above to review the full question set.

1. 1A proposed water appropriation for a new well would unlawfully impair an existing domestic well, although the proposed use is beneficial. How does that impairment affect permit issuance?

   1. A. The permit may issue once the applicant demonstrates beneficial use.
   2. B. The permit may issue despite that impairment if the pumping rate is reduced.
   3. C. The permit cannot issue while the unlawful impairment remains.
   4. D. The permit may issue if the applicant obtains a driller license.

   Answer: C

   Explanation: SDCL 46-2A-9 provides that "A permit to appropriate water may only be issued if there is reasonable probability that unappropriated water is available for the applicant's proposed use, the proposed diversion can be developed without unlawful impairment of existing domestic water uses and water rights". Because the proposed diversion would unlawfully impair an existing domestic well, the permit cannot issue while that impairment remains; beneficial use alone is insufficient.

   Reference: SDCL 46-2A-9 — Appropriation Permit Criteria — First substantive paragraph of the linked official statute section page

2. 2Two applicants seek rights to appropriate water from the same source. What event establishes the statutory priority date of an appropriation?

   1. A. The date the application is filed with the Water Management Board.
   2. B. The date the proposed well is first drilled to the aquifer.
   3. C. The date the water is first applied to beneficial use.
   4. D. The date the completed works receive final inspection.

   Answer: A

   Explanation: SDCL 46-5-7 states, "The priority of the appropriation shall date from the time of filing of the application therefor in the office of the Water Management Board." Drilling, first use, and inspection are later events and do not set that filing priority.

   Reference: SDCL Title 46 — Water Rights — SDCL 46-5-7

3. 3A contractor plans to accept a South Dakota water-well drilling contract next week. When must the contractor secure the well driller license?

   1. A. Before drilling or contracting to drill the well
   2. B. Before filing the well construction record
   3. C. Within 30 days after completing the well
   4. D. At the first annual license renewal

   Answer: A

   Explanation: The timing is controlled by SDCL 46-6-9: "Any well driller, before doing any well drilling and before contracting for any such work, shall first secure and thereafter maintain a license." The license must therefore be in place before the contract is accepted.

   Reference: SDLRC - Codified Law 46-6 - GROUNDWATER AND WELLS 46-6 GROUNDWATER AND WELLS — SDCL 46-6-9

4. 4A licensed company designates an individual as its license representative. For which work is that individual responsible?

   1. A. Only wells personally drilled by the representative
   2. B. Only permit wells deeper than the Greenhorn Formation
   3. C. All well drilling and construction contracted for or authorized by the licensee
   4. D. Only work performed during the representative's onsite shifts

   Answer: C

   Explanation: ARSD 74:02:01:42 provides that the representative "The license representative shall be responsible for all well drilling and well construction work contracted for or authorized on behalf of the well driller." Responsibility is not limited to the representative's personal onsite work.

   Reference: Rule 74:02:01:01 Definitions. — ARSD 74:02:01:42

5. 5What must a South Dakota driller certify on the well construction record about the finished well?

   1. A. That it is an adequate well and meets the well construction standards
   2. B. That it will never require rehabilitation or pump service
   3. C. That its water is suitable for every possible industrial use
   4. D. That it produces the maximum yield available from the aquifer

   Answer: A

   Explanation: ARSD 74:02:04:73 requires "Certifying on the well driller's record that the well as constructed is an adequate well according to subdivision 74:02:04:20(6) and the well construction meets well construction standards" The certification addresses adequacy and compliance.

   Reference: Rule 74:02:04:0A Aquifer and formation descriptions and drilling characteristics. — ARSD 74:02:04:73(1)

6. 6The chief engineer recommends deferring a South Dakota well driller license application. What notice must the applicant receive about that recommendation?

   1. A. A mailed recommendation stating the reasons and the Water Management Board hearing details.
   2. B. A mailed recommendation stating the reasons, with hearing details supplied only on request.
   3. C. A published recommendation stating the reasons and the county commission hearing details.
   4. D. A posted recommendation stating the reasons, with no hearing details until final denial.

   Answer: A

   Explanation: SDCL 46-2A-13 says, "If the chief engineer's recommendation is to deny the license or to defer the decision on the license, the chief engineer shall mail a copy of the recommendation to the applicant with a statement of the reasons for the recommendation and the time and place of the hearing before the Water Management Board on the recommendation". Deferral therefore requires a mailed recommendation containing both the reasons and the Board hearing details.

   Reference: SDCL 46-2A-13 — Well Driller License Procedure — First substantive paragraph of the linked official statute section page

7. 7A South Dakota driller reviews four proposed water uses before work begins. Which plan can proceed without a water appropriation permit under SDCL 46-5-8?

   1. A. A household well supplying reasonable domestic use without a dam.
   2. B. A distribution system diverting 19 gallons per minute to users.
   3. C. A domestic-use dam on a dry-draw impounding 26 acre-feet.
   4. D. An industrial well supplying a manufacturing process.

   Answer: A

   Explanation: SDCL 46-5-8 allows "reasonable domestic use of water from any source may do so without obtaining a permit from the Water Management Board"; the household well has no dam and fits that exemption. The same section expressly requires a permit for a dry-draw dam impounding more than 25 acre-feet. Section 46-5-8.2 sends a distribution system diverting over 18 gpm to the permit-application rule, and section 46-5-10 governs the industrial appropriation.

   Reference: SDCL Title 46 — Water Rights — SDCL 46-5-8

8. 8What license identification must a South Dakota well driller display conspicuously at the driller's place of business?

   1. A. South Dakota Water Permit Number
   2. B. South Dakota Licensed Well Driller No.
   3. C. South Dakota Contractor Registration No.
   4. D. South Dakota Well Completion Certificate No.

   Answer: B

   Explanation: SDCL 46-6-9 requires the licensee to "shall be plainly displayed at a conspicuous place on the premises where the work is being conducted." Thus the required identification is the licensed-well-driller number.

   Reference: SDLRC - Codified Law 46-6 - GROUNDWATER AND WELLS 46-6 GROUNDWATER AND WELLS — SDCL 46-6-9

9. 9How does South Dakota determine which categories of wells a new license authorizes a driller to construct?

   1. A. By the drill rig model listed on the application
   2. B. By the counties named on the application
   3. C. By the applicant's annual drilling volume
   4. D. By the well types for which the representative documents qualifying knowledge and experience

   Answer: D

   Explanation: ARSD 74:02:01:42 states that the representative's qualifications and experience are "The license representative's qualifications and experience shall be the basis for documenting in the application the ability of the well driller to complete properly one or more of the water use well types" Authorization follows demonstrated qualifications for the well type.

   Reference: Rule 74:02:01:01 Definitions. — ARSD 74:02:01:42

10. 10At completion, what regulatory information is the driller responsible for communicating to the well owner?

    1. A. Only the driller's preferred maintenance schedule
    2. B. The owner's responsibilities under the well construction standards
    3. C. Only the names of laboratories outside South Dakota
    4. D. The drilling company's internal equipment inspection schedule

    Answer: B

    Explanation: ARSD 74:02:04:73 places on the driller the duty of "Informing well owners of well drilling and well construction requirements for a proposed well" The communication concerns the owner's regulatory responsibilities.

    Reference: Rule 74:02:04:0A Aquifer and formation descriptions and drilling characteristics. — ARSD 74:02:04:73(2)