Water Withdrawal Permit Program: Application Procedures

Pre-application Assistance

If your project is complex, or if you are new to the permit application process, we recommend scheduling a pre-application conference with DEC and any other involved regulatory agencies. You will benefit by keeping initial plans flexible until the project design has been reviewed for compliance with all applicable regulatory standards required by law. Schedule your pre-application conference now. Contact the appropriate DEC regional Environmental Permits office.

Multiple mailings, multiple reviews, and misunderstandings can be eliminated by seeking clarifications from DEC staff at the planning stages of the project, and by submitting accurate, complete information.

Application Requirements

All information required in 6NYCRR Part 601, as well as the necessary forms for the State Environmental Quality Review Act (SEQR) and the State Historic Preservation Act (SHPA), must be submitted for the application to be complete. In summary, an application must include:

The Joint Application for permit Form, Instructions for Completing it, and Permission to Inspect Property Form can be found on Application Forms for DEC Permits page. Please read ALL instructions carefully and be sure you have completed ALL necessary parts before submitting your application. (4 copies)
1. Project authorization - all legally adopted resolutions, ordinances, and/or determinations,
2. A general map of the proposed service area or franchise area and all pertinent districts, works, and land forms, with details as specified in the regulations, and showing existing service areas, if any, which are going to be expanded,
3. USGS topographic maps, or the equivalent, showing the affected watershed.
4. Detailed profiles of the proposed facilities showing distances and elevations of pipes and other works,
5. Detailed contract plans and specifications,
6. An engineers report, signed by a professional engineer licensed in New York State, giving details as specified in the regulations,
7. Maps showing all land to be acquired in connection with the project,
8. A cost estimate as outlined in the regulations,
9. Chemical and bacteriological water analyses from the proposed water supply source,
10. Proposed water treatment methods, and
11. A project justification.
NOTE: Copies of all the exhibits must be submitted as follows:

Applicants Copies

Municipal Applicants 3 copies

Non-Municipal Applicants 4 copies

Exception: Municipal Applicants applying to acquire
an existing non-municipal system 4 copies

Application forms, fees, and other required materials must be submitted to the DEC Regional Permit Administrator for the county where the activity or project is located. (select the county where your project is located for contact information)
Information necessary for the requirements of SEQR and SHPA. which will include:
- A completed Environmental Assessment Form (EAF) (Part 1) (PDF) (1.8 mB) and in certain cases, a Draft Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS)
- A completed Structural Archaeological Assessment Form (SAAF) (PDF) (62 kB) (if required), and in certain cases, a cultural resource survey.
(See Other DEC Permits and Determinations in link box at the top left)
A Water Conservation Program Form for public water supplies (PDF) (156 kB). This document is an interactive form and may be filled out on your computer and then saved and/or printed. For help with completing this form, please refer to the Water Conservation Manual.
A Water Conservation Program Form for non-potable supplies (PDF) (235 KB). This document is an interactive form and may be filled out on your computer and then saved and/or printed. For help with completing this form, please refer to the Water Conservation Manual.
A Water Withdrawal Supplemental Application (PDF) (546 kB) (WW-1).
Other information which DEC staff may determine is necessary.

Applicants	Copies
Municipal Applicants	3 copies
Non-Municipal Applicants	4 copies
Exception: Municipal Applicants applying to acquire an existing non-municipal system	4 copies

Once an application is declared complete and review begins, it may become clear that additional information is needed to complete the review and make a decision. Also, if previous water supply applications have been made, some portions of these applications may be referenced in the present application. If you have no record of what was previously submitted for your water supply system, you may request assistance from:

Bureau of Water Permits
Department of Environmental Conservation
625 Broadway
Albany, New York 12233-3504
(518) 402-8110.

Water supply applications dating back to 1905 are on file, and if it becomes necessary, information can be retrieved within a reasonable amount of time.

Time Frames

See our web page on UPA time frames

Remember, Contact DEC Early in Your Planning and be Flexible - Let Us Help You!

Eliminate multiple mailings, multiple reviews, and misunderstandings by seeking clarifications from DEC staff at the planning stages of the project, and by submitting accurate, complete information. Be flexible in the early stages of planning until regulatory staff have had a chance to review and comment on your plans with respect to the regulatory standards required by law.