51-5-1 - Licensing of water well drillers.
§ 51-5-1. Licensing of water well drillers.
(1) Every person, firm and corporation desiring to engage in the business of drilling wells for underground water in the State of Mississippi shall file an application with the state board of water commissioners for a drilling license, using forms prepared by the board, setting out qualifications therefor and such other information, including any examination, oral or written, as may be required by the board. The fee for such license and renewal thereof shall be one hundred dollars ($100.00) for each year.
(2) All licenses shall expire on June 30 of each year and shall not be transferable and shall be renewable annually, without qualifying examination, upon payment of the required fee. However, anyone having such license outstanding and in effect as of June 10, 1966, shall have such license renewed or renewable under the same conditions as if such license had been granted under authorization of this chapter, and shall not be required to take an examination therefor.
(3) Nothing in this chapter shall prevent a person who has not obtained a license pursuant thereto from constructing a water well on his own or leased property intended for use only in a single family house which is his permanent residence, or intended for use only for watering livestock on his farm, and where the waters to be produced are not intended for use by the public or any residence other than his own. However, such person shall comply with all rules and regulations as to the construction of wells as set out by the provisions of this chapter.
(4) This section shall not apply to any person who performs labor or services at the direction and under the personal supervision of a licensed well contractor.
(5) A license may be renewed and shall be renewable without examination for the ensuing year by making an application not later than the expiration date and paying the applicable fee. Such application shall have the effect of extending the validity of the current license until the new license is received or the applicant is notified by the board that it has refused his license. On application made after June 30 of each year, the license will be renewed only upon payment of the applicable fee, plus a penalty of ten dollars ($10.00) for each month or fraction thereof the application is delinquent. Delinquency in excess of one (1) year may, in the discretion of the state board of water commissioners, be deemed as a waiver of the driller's right for renewal; and if he should apply thereafter, the board may require that he be considered as a new applicant, including the requirement for examination.
(6) Any person whose license has been revoked may, upon application for a new license, be required, in the discretion of the board, to take the examination and in all other ways be considered as a new applicant.
Sources: Codes, 1942, § 5956-31; Laws, 1966, ch. 269, § 1; Laws, 1978, ch. 371, § 1, eff from and after passage (approved March 15, 1978).