High-Capacity Well Legislation Moves through Assembly

Farms and other industrial companies may soon be allowed to replace their high-capacity water wells without reapplying for state government permits. The State Assembly passed a bill last week that aims to limit the amount of authority the Department of Natural Resources has on large wells, which supporters claims was never lawmakers’ intent when the original policy was implemented over a decade ago.

The measure would require flow meters on wells, while mandating a study of certain areas affected by high-capacity wells. It would also waive permit requirements for lake associations that want to install high-capacity wells to pump water into lakes as part of a hydrological study.

Large capacity wells are classified as pumps that draw at least 100,000 gallons of water per day.