New York State Banner
D E C banner
D E C banner

Great Lakes Water Withdrawal

Great Lakes Drainage Basins in New York StateIn 1989 the Legislature passed the Great Lakes Water Conservation and Management Act. The Act places certain requirements on the public who withdraw large amounts of Great Lakes Basin water.

These pages provide guidance on the Great Lakes Water Registration Program. Specifically, they tell who must register, how to register and how to compute water withdrawals and losses. For convenience in calculating the threshold figure of 100,000 gallons per day averaged over a consecutive 30-day period, it can be converted to 3 million gallons during a consecutive 30-day period.

Water Users Who Must Register

  • Any person who withdraws more than 3 million gallons of surface or ground water during a consecutive 30-day period from the Great Lakes Basin.

Water Users Who Do Not Have to Register

  • Any person who uses less than 3 million gallons of water during a 30-day period.
  • Water Suppliers who have a valid DEC water supply permit.
  • Any person who has a valid hydroelectric generation license from the Federal Energy Regulating Commission (FERC).
  • Any person who has a valid DEC water-lifting permit.

Nonagricultural Withdrawals versus Agricultural Withdrawals

  • Nonagricultural Withdrawals - All existing water nonagricultural water withdrawals should have been registered by By April 1, 1991. Renewals must be made every two years thereafter. If water withrdawal records are not available for the initial registration of an existing water withdrawal, accurate estimates may be used for as much of the previous two years as possible. Subsequent registration information must be based on accurate records of water withdrawal
  • Agricultural Withdrawals - Agricultural withdrawals must be registered by December 31st of the same year in which the water withdrawal exceeded 100,000 gallons per day averaged over a consecutive 30-day periodHow to Get Registration FormsNonagricultural Withdrawals versus Agricultural Withdrawals

NOTE: The transfer of any amount of water out of the Great Lakes Basin is subject to Federal and State laws that require the approval of all Great Lakes States Governors and the NYS Legislature. Proposed consumptive uses in excess of 5 million gallons per day will require advance consultation with the other Great Lakes States and Canadian Provinces.

Water registration forms and information can be downloaded or received via mail or fax by contacting:

NYS Department of Environmental Conservation
Bureau of Water Resource Management
625 Broadway
Albany, NY 12233-3508

Phone: (518) 402-8099

Forms are also available at DEC Regional Offices.

How to Register

For each withdrawal, a Water Registration Form (see How To Register page) must be completed and submitted with a registration fee to DEC. For nonagricultural users, a $200 fee is required for biennial (every two years) registrations. A $100 fee is required for annual registrations of agricultural withdrawals. Forms and fees must be sent to:

The NYS Department of Environmental Conservation
Bureau of Water Permits, 4th Floor
625 Broadway
Albany, NY 12233-3505

If your withdrawal has already been registered, you will be sent a reminder letter, forms and information before your current registration has expired.

More about Great Lakes Water Withdrawal: