Water Withdrawal Permits and Reporting
The Water Resources Law (ECL Article 15, Title 15) (leaves DEC website) requires all non-agricultural water withdrawal systems with the capacity to withdraw 100,000 gallons per day or more ("threshold volume") to obtain a Water Withdrawal Permit. The definition of the threshold volume for agricultural facilities is different than for non-agricultural facilities. Visit Agricultural Water Withdrawals to learn more.
The capacity of a water withdrawal system is determined by totaling all groundwater and/or surface water sources independent of how they are plumbed or their designation, such as for redundancy.
Systems exceeding the threshold volume (with some exceptions) must obtain a water withdrawal permit and report water use annually. For details regarding regulations, permitting, reporting, conservation requirements, pumping tests, and water well decommissioning, please see "More about Water Withdrawal Permits and Reporting" at the bottom of this page.
Forms
Forms are available online for applying for a water withdrawal permit, permit modification, permit renewal, or permit transfer.
Application Procedures
More details on water withdrawal permit application procedures are available from the Division of Environmental Permits.
The standard procedures for used by DEC for processing water withdrawal applications are available in the Technical and Operational Guidance Series 3.2.1 Processing Water Withdrawal Permit Applications (PDF).
Agricultural Facilities
The definition of the threshold volume for agricultural facilities is different than that for non-agricultural facilities. The agricultural threshold volume is defined as the withdrawal of water equal to or in excess of 100,000 gallons per day in any 30-day consecutive period (3 million gallons during a 30 day period). Visit Agricultural Water Withdrawals for more information on agricultural withdrawals, registration, permitting, and reporting.
All agricultural facilities with registered or permitted withdrawals must report water use annually.
Long Island Water Withdrawals
Wells drilled in Kings, Queens, Nassau, and Suffolk Counties are regulated though the Long Island Well Program (6 NYCRR Part 602 (leaves DEC website). For more information view the Long Island Water Withdrawals page.
Water Withdrawal Data
Water withdrawal data are available for use by the public and interested groups:
- DECinfo Locator - DECinfo Locator is an interactive map that lets you access DEC documents and public data about the environmental quality of specific site in New York State. Look for the Water Withdrawal Annual Report category in the Permits and Registrations information layer.
- NYS GIS Clearinghouse (leaves DEC website) - Data regarding water withdrawals.
- Open Data Initiative (leaves DEC website)
More about Water Withdrawal Permits and Reporting:
- Water Withdrawal Permits - Water Withdrawal Permit Program information, reporting, and application guidance for water withdrawals of 100,000 gallons per day or more.
- Long Island Water Withdrawals - Long Island Well Program information, reporting, and application guidance for water withdrawals. This page supplies reporting documents specific to Long Island permittees.
- Water Withdrawal Permit Renewals, Transfers, & Modifications - Permit renewal applications must be provided 30 days before the current water withdrawal permit expires. Permit modification applications must be provided before a facility with a current permit undergoes a change, upgrade, or modification to its water withdrawal system that would affect the source, use, or capacity of the system.
- Annual Water Withdrawal Reporting (Non-Agricultural) - Any facility capable of withdrawing water at or above a rate of 100,000 gallons per day must report usage to DEC annually
- Agricultural Water Withdrawals - Visit Agricultural Water Withdrawals for more information on agricultural withdrawals, registration, permitting, and reporting.
- Water Conservation Requirements - Beneficial near term and long range water conservation measures can be adapted as necessary to reflect local water resource needs and conditions.
- Pumping Test Procedures for Water Withdrawal Permit Applications - Pumping test results must be submitted as part of any Water Withdrawal Application involving a new or additional groundwater source.
- Water Well Decommissioning - Information regarding water well decommissioning recommendations
