Complete Strategic Guide: Obtaining the RBQ 2.2 Licence – Non-Drilled Water Catchment Works Contractor

1. What Is the RBQ 2.2 Licence and Who Needs It?

The RBQ 2.2 licence — Non-Drilled Water Catchment Works Contractor (Entrepreneur en ouvrages de captage d'eau non forés) — is a specialized licence issued by the Régie du bâtiment du Québec (RBQ) for contractors who construct, modify, or decommission non-drilled water catchment works. It authorizes construction work involving:

• Surface wells (dug wells — puits de surface);
• Wellpoints (driven points — pointes filtrantes);
• Spring catchments (captages de source);
• All associated work: finalization, standards compliance, and decommissioning.

With 53 skills across 4 modules and 13 competency elements, the RBQ 2.2 is a focused exam covering the three types of non-drilled water catchment works. It is a subcategory of licence 2.3 (groundwater pumping systems) and does not include the tubular well drilling competencies found in the parent licence 2.1.

2. Scope of the Licence: Surface Wells, Wellpoints and Spring Catchments

The RBQ 2.2 covers non-drilled water catchment works — the traditional and still widely used methods of accessing groundwater that do not require mechanical drilling. These three catchment methods each exploit different hydrogeological conditions and require distinct construction techniques.

Surface wells are the most common non-drilled catchment works. They are excavated manually or mechanically to access shallow aquifers, and feature a casing (typically concrete rings or corrugated steel), an annular space filled with approved materials, and a surface seal to prevent contamination. Wellpoints are small-diameter tubes driven into the ground with a screen at their tip, used to access shallow sand or gravel aquifers. Spring catchments are horizontal installations that capture groundwater at its natural emergence point, using a catchment drain, collection chamber, and surface water diversion systems.

A distinctive feature of the RBQ 2.2 is its environmental protection focus. Non-drilled catchment works access shallow aquifers that are particularly vulnerable to contamination from surface sources. The exam tests your ability to protect groundwater quality through proper construction techniques: adequate annular space sealing, correct setback distances from contamination sources, and proper management of excavation debris.

3. RBQ Exam Format: What to Expect

• Question type: Multiple choice (MCQ)
• Duration: 3 hours (180 minutes)
• Passing grade: 60%
• Languages: French or English
• Skills assessed: 53 skills across 13 competency elements
• Exam type: Mixed (2 open-book documents + 4 closed-book documents)
• Tools provided: Calculator, ruler, paper and pencil

With 53 skills and a mixed open/closed-book format, the RBQ 2.2 exam requires good navigation of the 2 provided documents (especially the Regulation respecting groundwater catchment) and solid memorization of the 4 closed-book documents. Module 4 (Standards and Work Execution) accounts for 27 of 53 skills — 51% of the exam.

4. Exam Documentation: Open Book vs. Closed Book

The RBQ 2.2 exam is a mixed exam with 2 documents provided (open book) and 4 to memorize (closed book) — 6 documents total. The exam is primarily closed book in character, with the Regulation respecting groundwater catchment being the key open-book reference.

Documents PROVIDED During the Exam (Open Book)

• Regulation respecting groundwater catchment (CQLR, c. Q-2, r. 6) — The central regulatory reference governing catchment work, installation standards, setback distances, permits, and the contractor's obligations for all types of water catchment works.
• Safety Code for Construction Work (CQLR, c. S-2.1, r. 4) — Health and safety standards applicable to construction sites, including excavation safety, confined spaces, and heavy equipment operation.

Documents to MEMORIZE (Closed Book)

• Building Act (CQLR, c. B-1.1) — The foundational statute governing construction, safety, and contractor qualifications in Quebec.
• Regulation respecting the professional qualifications of contractors and owner-builders (CQLR, c. B-1.1, r. 9) — Defines the qualification requirements and conditions for obtaining a licence.
• Environment Quality Act (CQLR, c. Q-2) — The primary environmental statute governing groundwater protection, contamination prevention, and the environmental obligations of catchment work contractors.
• Occupational Health and Safety Act (CQLR, c. S-2.1) — The foundational statute for workplace safety in Quebec.

5. The 4 Training and Competency Modules

Module 1 — Definitions and Types of Systems (13 skills — 25%)

Covers foundational knowledge of groundwater and non-drilled catchment systems: the hydrological cycle, aquifer types (granular aquifers are most relevant for non-drilled works), water table characteristics, static and dynamic water levels, specific capacity, the three types of non-drilled catchment works (surface wells, wellpoints, spring catchments), their construction characteristics and selection criteria, compliant materials (ASTM standards), and the components of a complete water supply installation.

Module 2 — Legislative, Normative and Regulatory Framework (5 skills — 9%)

Covers the regulatory framework for groundwater catchment: the Building Act, the Regulation respecting professional qualifications, the Environment Quality Act, the Regulation respecting groundwater catchment (Q-2, r. 6), the OHS Act, and the Safety Code for Construction Work. This module tests your ability to identify which law or regulation governs each aspect of non-drilled catchment work.

Module 3 — Plans and Specifications (8 skills — 15%)

Covers the ability to read plans and specifications for non-drilled catchment projects: interpreting location sketches with setback distances, reading cross-section details showing construction layers (annular space, unsaturated zone, fill materials), and understanding specifications for surface wells, wellpoints, and spring catchments.

Module 4 — Standards and Work Execution (27 skills — 51%)

The most heavily weighted module on the exam. With 27 skills across 8 competency elements, this module accounts for over half the exam. It covers: work planning, surface well construction (annular space, unsaturated zone, excavation debris management, fill materials), wellpoint construction (installation techniques, limitations), spring catchment construction (catchment drain, collection chamber, ground preparation), work finalization (development, pumping tests, disinfection, drilling report), standards compliance for existing wells, decommissioning of unused works, and health and safety.

6. Key Competencies and Technical Requirements (Official Context)

Surface Well Construction: The Most Common Non-Drilled Work

Surface wells (puits de surface) are the largest technical block in the RBQ 2.2 exam. Candidates must master every aspect of construction: excavation techniques (manual and mechanical), casing installation (concrete rings, corrugated steel — each with specific requirements), annular space construction (the sealed space between the casing and the excavation wall that prevents surface water from reaching the aquifer), unsaturated zone requirements (the depth of dry soil above the water table that provides natural filtration), fill material selection and placement, and surface finishing to prevent contamination entry. The Regulation Q-2, r. 6 specifies precise dimensions and materials for each of these elements.

Wellpoints: Small-Diameter Driven Catchment Works

Wellpoints (pointes filtrantes) are small-diameter tubes driven into the ground with a screen at their tip. They are used to access shallow sand or gravel aquifers where drilling is not required. The exam tests knowledge of installation techniques (driving method, depth limitations), screen selection (opening size matched to aquifer grain size), connection to pumping systems, and the specific regulatory requirements under Q-2, r. 6. Although wellpoints represent a smaller skill block, the questions can be highly technical — focusing on the conditions where wellpoints are appropriate versus where a surface well or drilled well is required.

Spring Catchments: Capturing Natural Groundwater Emergence

Spring catchments (captages de source) are horizontal installations designed to capture groundwater where it naturally emerges at the surface. The exam covers catchment drain design and installation, collection chamber construction, surface water diversion (fossé), ground preparation to protect the catchment area, and the protection perimeter requirements. Spring catchments are unique among non-drilled works because they must manage both the captured groundwater and the surface water that could contaminate it — a dual challenge that the exam tests through scenario-based questions.

The Regulation Respecting Groundwater Catchment: Your Primary Reference

The Regulation respecting groundwater catchment (Q-2, r. 6) is the most important document for the RBQ 2.2 exam. It establishes the complete regulatory framework: the purpose and scope of the regulation, the types of work requiring ministerial approval, the municipal role in water management, and the prescribed setback distances for locating works relative to potential contamination sources (septic systems, fuel tanks, agricultural operations). Since this document is provided at the exam, the key competency is fast navigation — knowing where to find specific installation standards, setback tables, and permit requirements. Prof-RBQ.ca teaches the structure of this regulation.

Work Finalization: Development, Testing, Disinfection, and Reporting

After construction, every non-drilled catchment work requires a series of finalization steps tested on the exam. Development clears construction debris and stabilizes the well. Pumping tests determine the work's sustainable yield. Disinfection ensures safe water quality. The contractor must also record GPS coordinates and submit a drilling report — the official record that enters the provincial groundwater database. These steps are legally mandatory and directly affect public health, making them a frequent exam topic.

Decommissioning and Standards Compliance: Lifecycle Responsibility

The exam covers both decommissioning of unused works and bringing existing works into compliance with current standards. Decommissioning methods differ by type: surface wells require casing removal and backfilling, wellpoints require extraction or grouting, and spring catchments require removal of collection structures and restoration of natural drainage. Standards compliance involves assessing existing works against current regulatory requirements and performing the necessary upgrades — a common real-world scenario as older catchment works are brought up to modern standards.

7. Preparation Strategy and Tips for Success

The RBQ 2.2 exam covers 53 skills across 4 modules with 2 open-book and 4 closed-book documents. Here is a recommended strategy:

Phase 1 — Master the Regulation respecting groundwater catchment (Q-2, r. 6). This is the central reference document provided at the exam. Learn its structure, know where to find setback distances, installation standards for each type of non-drilled work, and permit requirements. Fast navigation is your best asset.

Phase 2 — Dominate Module 4 (Standards and Work Execution). With 27 skills (51% of the exam), this module determines your result. Focus on surface well construction (the largest block), then cover wellpoints, spring catchments, work finalization, and decommissioning.

Phase 3 — Memorize the 4 closed-book documents by theme. Group them: contractor law (Building Act, Professional Qualifications Regulation), environment (Environment Quality Act), and workplace safety (OHS Act). Use Prof-RBQ.ca's flashcards with spaced repetition.

Phase 4 — Master Module 1 (Definitions and Types of Systems). With 13 skills (25%), this is the second-largest module. Understand the hydrogeological conditions for each type of non-drilled work, material standards (ASTM), and the selection criteria that determine which type of work is appropriate.

Phase 5 — Complete full timed simulations. With 53 skills and 2 open-book documents, you have roughly 204 seconds per question — more generous than many RBQ exams. Use this time to navigate the Regulation carefully and verify your answers.

Frequently Asked Questions