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Water well drillers

OaSIS code 72501.00

Water well drillers operate a variety of mobile water well drilling rigs and equipment to drill and monitor residential, commercial and industrial water wells. Apprentices are also included in this unit group.

Overview

Also known as

  • Cable tool driller - water well drilling
  • Churn drill operator - water well drilling
  • Water well driller
  • Water well driller apprentice

Main duties

This group performs some or all of the following duties:

  • Review client requirements and proposed locations for water wells
  • Operate water well drilling rigs and other equipment to drill, bore and dig for residential, commercial and industrial water wells or environmental assessment, and install well screens, casings and other well fixtures
  • Document geological formations encountered
  • Clean and disinfect wells in preparation for use
  • Perform routine mechanical maintenance work on water well drilling rigs and equipment
  • Install, test, maintain and repair water well pumps, piping systems and equipment and perform pumping tests to assess well performance
  • May provide other drilling services, such as repair or dismantling of existing water well structure, elevator shaft drilling and hydro pole drilling.

Additional information

  • Mobility is possible among the various well drilling operators in this unit group.
  • Progression to supervisory positions is possible with experience.
  • Water well drillers may specialize in a specific method of drilling, such as cable, rotary, auger, hammer or reverse circulation drilling.

Similar occupations classified elsewhere

Exclusions:

  • Contractors and supervisors, heavy equipment operator crews (72021)
  • Drillers and blasters - surface mining, quarrying and construction (73402)
  • Oil and gas well drillers, servicers, testers and related workers (83101)

NOC hierarchy breakdown

NOC version

NOC 2021 Version 1.0

Broad occupational category

7 – Trades, transport and equipment operators and related occupations

TEER

2 – Occupations usually require a college diploma or apprenticeship training of two or more years; or supervisory occupations

Major group

72 – Technical trades and transportation officers and controllers

Sub-major group

725 – Technical equipment operation trades

Minor group

7250 – Crane operators and water well drillers

Unit group

72501 – Water well drillers

Occupational profile

72501.00 – Water well drillers

Work characteristics

Work characteristics gathers the various components describing the work environment of each occupation, such as employers, work activities, and the work context. Each category displays up to 10 descriptors in descending order based, firstly, on their attributed ratings by the level of complexity (for Work Activities) or other measurement dimensions (for Work Context), and secondly, in alphabetical order. The whole list of descriptors and their ratings can be expanded at the bottom of each page.

Work Activities

Proficiency or complexity level
Mechanical Maintenance
5 - Highest Level
Performing General Physical Activities
5 - Highest Level
Controlling Machines and Processes
4 - High Level
Handling and Moving Objects
4 - High Level
Inspecting Equipment, Structures, or Material
4 - High Level

Work Context

Structural Job Characteristics

Structured versus Unstructured Work
Degree of freedom to determine tasks and priorities
3 - Moderate amount of freedom
Work Week Duration
Worked hours in a typical week
3 - More than 40 hours

Physical Work Environment

Physical Proximity
Physical distance from others
3 - Somewhat close (e.g. share office)

Physical Demands

Sitting
Duration
2 - Less than half the time
Standing
Duration
4 - More than half the time
Bending or Twisting the Body
Duration
3 - About half the time

Interpersonal Relations

Contact with Others
Frequency
4 - Every day, a few times per day
Duration
4 - More than half the time
Work with Work Group or Team
Importance
3 - Important
Frequency
4 - Every day, a few times per day

Workplaces/employers

  • Governments
  • Self-employed
  • Water well drilling contractors

Skills and abilities

This section displays the various competencies required for an occupation. Each category displays up to 10 descriptors in descending order based, firstly, on their attributed ratings by the level of proficiency (for Skills and Abilities) or importance (for Personal Attributes) and secondly, in alphabetical order. The whole list of descriptors and their ratings can be expanded at the bottom of each page.

Abilities

Proficiency or complexity level
Control of Settings
5 - Highest Level
Depth Perception
5 - Highest Level
Auditory Attention
4 - High Level
Multi-Limb Coordination
4 - High Level
Multi-Signal Response
4 - High Level

Skills

Proficiency or complexity level
Operation and Control
4 - High Level
Operation Monitoring of Machinery and Equipment
4 - High Level
Preventative Maintenance
4 - High Level
Repairing
4 - High Level
Equipment and Tool Selection
3 - Moderate Level

Personal Attributes

Importance
Adaptability
4 - Highly important
Attention to Detail
4 - Highly important
Independence
4 - Highly important
Stress Tolerance
4 - Highly important
Active Learning
3 - Important

Interests

The OaSIS uses the Holland Codes to describe the work-related interests. According to the Holland model, people work best in work environments that match their preferences, which means that people and work environments can be matched for a best fit. Occupational environments in Holland’s theory are described according to a combination of main interests and the activities they represent. There are six interests in the Holland typology: Realistic, Investigative, Artistic, Social, Enterprising and Conventional. All occupations in OaSIS have up to three interests assigned to them.

Interests

Preferences for work environments and outcomes.

Interests profile: RIC

Realistic (R)

Realistic occupations are characterized by the dominance of activities that entail the explicit, ordered or systematic manipulation of objects, tools, machines and animals. Many of these occupations do not involve a lot of paperwork or working closely with others.

Investigative (I)

Investigative occupations are characterized by the dominance of activities that entail the observation and systematic or creative investigation of physical, biological, or cultural phenomena. These occupations require an extensive amount of thinking and frequently involve working with ideas, searching for facts and figuring out problems mentally.

Conventional (C)

Conventional occupations are characterized by the dominance of activities that entail following sets of procedures and routines. These activities may include systematic manipulation of data, such as keeping records, filing materials, reproducing materials, organizing written and numerical data according to a prescribed plan, and operating business and data processing. They often require following a clear line of authority and usually involve working with data and details more than with ideas.

Employment requirements

Employment requirements includes the education, training, certifications and the knowledge required to work in each occupation. The Knowledge category displays up to 10 descriptors in descending order based, firstly, on their attributed ratings by the level of proficiency, and secondly, in alphabetical order. The whole list of Knowledge descriptors and their ratings can be expanded at the bottom of each page.

Education, certification and licensing

  • Completion of secondary school is usually required.
  • Completion of a two- to three-year water well drilling apprenticeship program or two to three years of work experience in the trade combined with college or industry courses in water well drilling is usually required to be eligible for trade certification.
  • Trade certification is available, but voluntary, in New Brunswick, Ontario, Saskatchewan, Alberta and British Columbia.

Knowledge

Knowledge level
Vehicle, Machinery and Equipment Operations
2 - Intermediate Level
Water Resources
2 - Intermediate Level
Clerical
1 - Basic Level
Geoscience
1 - Basic Level
Languages
1 - Basic Level

Skills for success

 
Skills for Success Model
 
Skills for Success are skills that help you in a quickly changing world. Everyone benefits from having these skills. They can help you to get a job, progress at your current job or even change jobs. The skills also help you become an active member of your community and succeed in learning.
 
 
Linkages Between ESDC Skills Models and Frameworks
 
ESDC makes available a dictionary of over 300 terms (or descriptors) and definitions, known as the Skills and Competencies Taxonomy (SCT). Descriptor information from the Taxonomy is used in the Occupational and Skills Information System (OaSIS).
 
While there is general commonality of meaning between the descriptors in the SCT and the Skills for Success model, there are some differences in their definitions due to their distinct purposes. The Skills for Success Model [9 broadly defined skills] identifies the skills that are universally applicable. The SCT displays specific skills and competency requirements for 900 occupations. Users of the Skills for Success Model and Essential Skills content may find competency information from the Taxonomy and the OaSIS to be complementary.
 
Stay tuned to this section for more information and updates regarding linkages between the Skills for Success model and the OaSIS.

O*NET in-it

This page includes information from the O*NET 27.2 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA). Used under the CC BY 4.0 license. O*NET® is a trademark of USDOL/ETA. Employment and Social Development Canada has modified all or some of this information. USDOL/ETA has not approved, endorsed, or tested these modifications.

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