Is Your Contractor Licensed to Work Inside Your Well?

The California State Licensing Board, “CSLB” says the following about a C-57 Well Contractor…

• In California, work inside or on a ground water well must be performed by a contractor holding a C-57 Water Well Drilling Contractor license issued by the Contractors State License Board (CSLB). This licensed professional is authorized to construct, deepen, repair, modify, or abandon water wells. AC-57 Well Drilling Contractor is authorized to drill, dig, bore, case, cement, and clean water wells by employing different methods including, but not limited to chemical treatment, brushing, bailing, high pressure jetting, and compressed air lifting. This licensed professional is authorized to set and repair well pumps and perform well testing and modify wells by installing well liners and installing filtering gravel packs. This Licensed professional is authorized to video inspect and video record the inside of wells.

The California State Licensing Board, “CSLB” says the following about a C-61 / D-21 (Machinery and Pumps) Licensed Contractor…

According to the California Contractors State License Board (CSLB), a licensed contractor holding classifications of aC-61 / D-21,are limited to work involving the installation, service, repair, or replacement of pumping equipment, and does not include any work that alters the original well structure or the installation of full water systems construction or plumbing or electrical. On water-well projects, D-21 contractors are limited to pump installation, maintenance or replacement, and cannot perform the actual well drilling, down well construction, repairs or modifications including well liners.

AC-61 / D-21 contractor Is Authorized to:

• Install, maintain, repair, and replace pumping machinery used to bring water to the surface.
• Plumb discharge lines making connections to existing distribution supply lines.
• Service or replace mechanical pump system components associated with water wells.
• Connect pumps to existing electrical and plumbing utilities that were previously installed by properly licensed contractors.
• Perform work limited to the mechanical operation of the pump system.
• Plumbing is limited to the connection of new equipment to existing plumbing and does not include new distribution plumbing or other plumbing that falls under a C-36 plumbers scope.

AC-61 / D-21 Contractor Is NOT Authorized to:

• Drill a new well or modify the structure of an existing well.
• Installation of well liners.
• Down well video inspection or recording.
• Down well cleaning, installation of any chemicals including chlorine, brushing, bailing, swabbing, compressed air cleaning.
• Deepen, alter, or reconstruct the physical structure of a well.
• Destroy or decommission an out-of-service well.
• Install new electrical distribution panels, extensive wiring, or new electrical systems required to operate the pump unless they hold the appropriate electrical license.
• Install extensive plumbing systems beyond connecting pumps to existing plumbing unless properly licensed.
• Design or install comprehensive water treatment systems, as the license scope is limited to the mechanical movement of water rather than treatment of its chemical or biological quality.

The California State Licensing Board, “CSLB” says the following about a C-55 Licensed Contractor in reference to water treatment and water wells.

• According to the California Contractors State License Board (CSLB), AC-55 Water Conditioning Contractor in California is licensed by the CSLB to install, repair, and maintain water conditioning equipment—such as softeners and filtration systems—using necessary pipe, fittings, and valves to connect them to an existing water supply system. They also handle related plumbing, electrical connections, and system troubleshooting. C-55 licensed contractors can install water softeners, filtration units, and reverse osmosis systems for residential, commercial, or industrial applications.
• A C-55 contractor Can Do: Plumbing for the piping and fitting work necessary to connect, bypass, or repair water supply lines to the conditioning equipment. Service, maintain, and replace components of existing water conditioning systems. Make the electrical connections needed for the equipment and install proper drain connections. Evaluate water quality and select the appropriate treatment system.
• A C-55 Water Conditioning Contractor Cannot Do: They cannot perform general plumbing work, such as installing or repairing general household water lines, waste lines, or gas lines, unless it is directly connected to the water conditioning equipment. They cannot drill new water wells (which requires a C-57 license). They cannot install well liners, cannot inject any chemicals into wells including cleaning acids and chlorine.

The California State Licensing Board, “CSLB” says the following about a C-36 Licensed Plumbing Contractor in reference to water treatment and water wells.

• According to the California Contractors State License Board (CSLB), AC-36 Plumbing Contractor is authorized to work on the plumbing portion of a well pressure and distribution system, but not the well itself or the pump equipment inside the well. A C-36 license covers the installation, alteration, and repair of plumbing systems that convey water for domestic, commercial, or industrial use.