A provision buried in North Dakota's SB2308 establishes mandatory contractor certification for water well construction and geothermal drilling—requirements that may affect your facility's operations o
Most North Dakota child care owners don't realize that SB2308, a sprawling bill addressing everything from occupational boards to the poet laureate nominating board, contains a significant mandate affecting water well and geothermal drilling operations. If your facility relies on well water or is considering geothermal heating and cooling, this provision matters.
Section 20 of SB2308 (found on Page 12) establishes a straightforward rule: any business that constructs water wells, installs water well pumps or pitless units, drills monitoring wells, or drills geothermal systems must have a certified contractor or installer in charge at all times during those operations.
This applies to all business structures—sole proprietorships, partnerships, LLCs, and corporations. The certification requirement is not optional. If your child care facility is planning to drill a new well, repair an existing well system, or install a geothermal system, the contractor performing that work must hold the required certification before beginning.
Child care centers depend on reliable water systems. Whether you're maintaining an existing well, upgrading pump systems, or exploring geothermal options for facility expansion or renovation, you now need to verify that any contractor you hire holds the proper certification. Hiring an uncertified contractor to perform these services violates state law.
This requirement also affects your due diligence. Before signing a contract with a drilling or geothermal company, ask directly about their certification status and request documentation. It's a straightforward compliance step that protects both your facility and the contractor.
The law references two different effective dates depending on the type of work:
For water well pump and pitless unit installers, the certification requirement references July 1, 1986—meaning this standard has been in place for decades, though SB2308 reinforces and clarifies the mandate.
For geothermal drilling, the requirement references July 1, 2008, establishing when that certification standard took effect.
These dates matter because they indicate the state has been building this regulatory framework over time. SB2308 consolidates and strengthens these requirements across the board.
If your facility is planning any water well work or geothermal installation, add contractor certification verification to your checklist. When requesting bids, include a requirement that the contractor provide proof of current certification. This protects your facility from liability and ensures the work meets state standards.
If you're unsure whether a specific type of work requires certification, contact the North Dakota State Board of Water Well Contractors directly. They can clarify which operations fall under the mandate and what documentation contractors must hold.
The full text of SB2308, Section 20, is available through the North Dakota Legislative Branch website for facilities seeking detailed regulatory language.