Approval, reporting, and fee requirements for certain wells. (FE)

Under current law, for example, if a property owner has an irrigation well with a capacity of 90,000 gallons per day and the property owner wants to add another well with a capacity of more than 10,000 gallons per day for any purpose, the property owner must pay a $500 fee and get approval from DNR before constructing the new well and must make an annual pumping report. Under the bill, on the other hand, if a property owner has an irrigation well with a capacity of 90,000 gallons per day and wants to add a well with a capacity of over 10,000 gallons per day to provide water to a residence located on the same property or for fire protection purposes, the property owner is not required to obtain DNR approval, pay the $500 fee, or make an annual pumping report. Also under the bill, if all of the wells on a property are residential wells, the property owner may add another well of any capacity to serve a residence located on the same property without being required to obtain DNR approval, pay the $500 fee, or make an annual pumping report.

Current law requires a person with a water system with the capacity to withdraw more than 100,000 gallons of water per day from surface water or groundwater to pay a $125 annual fee to DNR. This bill provides that the capacity of a well used primarily for fire protection purposes or to provide water to a single family or multifamily residence located on the same property as the well is not considered in determining whether a person is required to pay the $125 annual fee.