SB 243

Current law requires a person to obtain approval from the Department of

Natural Resources (DNR) and pay a $500 fee before constructing a high capacity

well, which is a well that, together with all other wells on the same property, has the

capacity to withdraw more than 100,000 gallons of water per day. In some cases,

before approving a proposed high capacity well, DNR must ensure that the well will

not have a significant adverse effect on certain springs or surface water bodies. The

law also requires the owner of a high capacity well to submit an annual report on the

amount of water pumped. Current law requires a person who wishes to construct a

well that is not a high capacity well to notify DNR and pay a $50 fee.

This bill provides that a well of any capacity used primarily for fire protection

purposes or used primarily to provide water to a single-family or multifamily

residence located on the same property as the well is not a high capacity well. The

bill also provides that an existing residential well or fire protection well is not

included in the 100,000 gallon-per-day threshold when determining whether a new

well to be constructed on the same property is a high capacity well.

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.