Adam Foster, TDLR

1. Texas Department of Licensing and
Regulation
Water Well Drillers and Pump Installer
Program Update
Adam Foster
Hydrologist, WWD/PI Program

2. FY2018 GCD and TDLR Cooperation
• 21 Investigations/Complaints
• 4 Trainings (staff from 16 GCDs)
• 3 Board Meetings
• 14 GCD ABW referrals
• 2 New MOUs

3. 4-Year Rule Review
• 76.70(1) – Well reports no longer have to be mailed by certified mail.
• 76.100(d)(2)(C) – Added fiber glass casing.
• 76.100(e) – Borehole must be 3 inches greater in diameter than the
outside diameter of the casing.
• 76.101(c)(1) – Removed “It is a defense to prosecution for violation of
this section that the driller reasonably was not aware of having
encountered injurious water.”

4. Commingling Workgroup
76.10 (16) – The mixing, mingling, blending or combining through the
borehole, casing annulus, or the filter pack of waters that differ in
chemical quality, which causes quality degradation of any aquifer or
zone.
• Workgroup met in January to
• Look at current TDLR rules on commingling of groundwater and how it affects
water quality
• Make recommendations for addressing concerns

5. Taskforce
1. Identify the amount of time and what conditions must be met for a test
well to stay open. 76.100 (c)(6)
2. Establish minimum well construction standards to produce brackish water
(>1000 mg/L TDS)? 76.102
3. Determine if the mixing of two different brackish zones/aquifers should be
considered commingling?
4. Define groundwater degradation. 76.10 (16) & (19); 76.100 (c)(1); 76.105 (b)(3)
5. Define aquifers and zones. 76.10 (16)
• Requested feedback from RRC, TWDB, TCEQ, TGPC, TAGD, TGWA, and TXOGA
• Summit Meeting at 9:00am on August 17, 2018

6. Other Topics
• GCD Training
• Abandoned Well MOUs
• Correct GPS locations