1. (1) The state engineer shall monitor compliance with this article 91, including by inspecting water well construction, ground heat exchanger installation, and pump installation, and the state engineer may employ inspectors for this purpose. The costs of monitoring and inspection shall be paid from the well inspection cash fund created in section 37-80-111.5.

2. (2) Inspectors shall have the following qualifications, but need not be licensed pursuant to this article 91:

   1. (a) Knowledge of proper well construction, ground heat exchanger installation, and pump installation techniques and practices;
   2. (b) Drill site experience;
   3. (c) Computer skills;
   4. (d) Interpersonal skills; and
   5. (e) Knowledge of all applicable statutes and rules.

3. (3) Inspectors shall annually spend a majority of their time conducting field inspections and a minority of their time preparing and evaluating reports and related office work. Duties include the following:

   1. (a) Well construction, ground heat exchanger installation, and pump installation inspection and observation;
   2. (b) Complaint investigation;
   3. (c) Education and outreach;
   4. (d) Inspection and observation of geotechnical wells, observation and monitoring wells, dewatering wells, and test holes;
   5. (e) Field inspections of existing wells, ground heat exchangers, and pumps;
   6. (f) Field inspections of well, ground heat exchanger, and hole plugging and abandonment; and
   7. (g) Staff support for the state engineer and board.

Source: L. 2003: Entire section added, p. 1681, § 12, effective May 14. L. 2025: (1), IP(2), (2)(a), IP(3), (3)(a), (3)(e), and (3)(f) amended, (HB 25-1165), ch. 257, p. 1320, § 28, effective August 6.

Cross references: For the legislative declaration in HB 25-1165, see section 1 of chapter 257, Session Laws of Colorado 2025.

Water Right Determination and Administration