Water Withdrawals for Agricultural Facilities
For the purposes of the water withdrawal regulations, agricultural facilities include: farming for crops, plants, vines and trees, and the keeping, grazing, or feeding of livestock for sale of livestock or livestock products, and the on-farm processing of crops, livestock and livestock products. Depending on several factors, agricultural facilities may be required to register, obtain permits, and/or report water withdrawals annually. Water withdrawal includes both groundwater or surface water.
Photo by Keturah Stickann/John Menier
(from Creative Commons)
Registration of Existing Water Withdrawals
As per §601.17 (Registration of agricultural facilities), registration is required if:
- a water withdrawal system was being operated for agricultural purposes on February 15, 2012, with a cumulative withdrawal for a single parcel or proximate parcels equal to or in excess of an average of 100,000 gallons per day ("threshold volume") in any thirty day consecutive period (3 million gallons during a 30 day period); AND
- prior to February 15, 2012 water usage was registered or reported to NYSDEC. (If not already registered or reported by that date, then the facility must acquire a permit.)
Water withdrawal applies to both surface water and groundwater.
Please note that non-agricultural facilities use a slightly different threshold definition.
Annual registrations are due by March 31st of each year.
However any agricultural facility with a water source over the threshold volume but did not register or report usage to NYSDEC prior to February 15, 2012 must file for a water withdrawal permit.
Annual Reporting
All agricultural facilities with the capacity to withdraw groundwater or surface water equal to or in excess of an average of 100,000 gallons per day in any thirty day consecutive period (3 million gallons during a 30 day period) must file an annual report with the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation on an annual basis.
Annual reports are due by March 31st of each year.
Permits
- A permit is not necessary for withdrawals for agricultural purposes that were registered or their annual water usage reported prior to February 15, 2012. These existing withdrawals are only subject to the annual reporting and registration requirements.
- A permit is required for any agricultural facility that did not register or report usage prior to February 15, 2012 and has the capacity to withdraw water equal to or in excess of an average of 100,000 gallons per day in any thirty day consecutive period (3 million gallons during a 30 day period)
All permit applications must be accompanied by a Water Conservation Program.
Details and further explanations of these topics are contained in the following webpages.
More about Water Withdrawals for Agricultural Facilities:
- Agricultural Water Withdrawal Registration - All agricultural water withdrawals greater than 100,000 gallons per day must register annually.
- Agricultural Water Withdrawal Annual Reporting - All agricultural water withdrawals greater than 100,000 gallons per day must be reported annually to DEC.
- Agricultural Permits for New or Increased Water Supplies - All new or increased agricultural water withdrawals greater than 100,000 gallons per day must apply for a DEC water withdrawal permit unless it was previously reported to DEC prior to February 15, 2012.
- Decision Tree for Agricultural Permits - Use this tree to help determine if a permit is needed for your agricultural facility.
- How To Estimate Agricultural Water Withdrawal - How to Estimate Agricultural Water Withdrawals
