If the landowner does not attend the board meeting, then the case is turned over to the Attorney General's Office. The 72nd Legislature, Regular Session expanded the WWDB functions to include pump installers, who work on wells after they have been drilled. Pump installers locate and survey abandoned wells and repair old wells. There are an estimated 4,500 pump installers in Texas. Wells that are not properly sealed at the surface, which could contaminate drinking water supplies, could also be detected through this function.
Rules are yet to be established to govern the proper installation and maintenance of wells.
This will enhance the groundwater protection efforts already in effect at the state level. The regulation of this function will also provide a mechanism to ensure that surface casing is completed on wells that were drilled before the rules on surface casing existed. License fees imposed on pump installers will offset the cost of the appropriations. This action would eliminate the current executive board. An advisory board should be established to recommend policy and enforcement actions to the statewide environmental regulation agency's governing board.