DWR_3604571

• Document Type - Guidance Documents: Policy
• Topic: Board of Examiners
• Title: REVOKED POLICY 2002-1: PUMP INSTALLATION IN CISTERNS - NO LICENSE REQUIRED
• Document Date: 10/5/2004

TATE OF COLORAD(
`4,RD OF EXAMINERS OF WATER WELL CONSTRUCTION AND PUMP INSTALLATION CONTRACTORS
'on of Water Resources
— 3 Sherman Street, Room 818
Denver, CO 80203
Phone [phone]
FAX [phone]
http://www.water.state.co.usthoe
BOARD POLICY NO. 2002-1
erns
Bill Owens
Governor
Greg E. Watcher
Executive Director, DNR
Hal D. Simpson, P.E.
Secretary
PROBLEM:
With the recent and ongoing drought conditions experienced throughout the state, many shallow and
older wells have substantially diminished in production. In some cases, deepening or replacing such a
well is not practical or economically feasible and the well owner has chosen to have a cistern installed
to increase the capacity for storing water from the well. Generally, the cistern may also be filled by
hauling water from a municipal supply, thereby supplementing the water supply from the well. To
convey the water from the cistern to the distribution system of the residence, it is generally necessary
to install a pump into the cistern. The Board has been asked if such an installation of pumping
equipment requires a license from the Board.
DISCUSSION:
The Board asked that the license provisions of section 37-91-105 and related definitions be reviewed
by legal counsel from the Attorney General's office to determine if the licensing provisions are
applicable to the installation of pumps in cisterns. After review of the relevant statutes, legal counsel
expressed the opinion that the apparent intent of the statutes is to require licensure for the installation
of pumping equipment that directly encounters and withdraws ground water that is to be contained in a
closed system up to the point of discharge or distribution, and that the Board need not exert authority
over the installation of pumps beyond the point of discharge from the closed system. Therefore, it is
the Board's determination that a license need not be obtained from the Board for the installation of
pumping equipment in a cistern or other vessel for the conveyance or distribution of water when such
installation occurs outside the well at or beyond the point of initial discharge of water from the well.
POLICY:
It is the policy of the Board that persons installing pumps in cisterns or other vessels for the purpose of
conveying or distributing water may conduct such installations without obtaining a license from the
Board under the following conditions:
1. Such pump installation shall only occur at or beyond the point of initial discharge of water from
the well;
2. All such installations shall be accompanied by proper disinfection;
TIMOTHY L. DECKER, Montrose; H. RAY NEWMYER, Mo=; GLENN CLEMENT, Greeley