Annual Water Withdrawal Reporting (Non-Agricultural)
Any water withdrawal system (with some exceptions) with the capacity to withdraw 100,000 gallons per day or more must report amounts withdrawn to DEC annually in accordance with 6 NYCRR Part 601.5 (leaves DEC website). The capacity is determined by maximum potential withdrawal of all the water source(s), not by the typical or actual withdrawal. For public water supplies, the capacity generally includes redundant wells.
Agricultural facilities follow different water withdrawal reporting and permitting procedures. Please review those pages for complete information.
Water withdrawals must be reported annually. If your facility sells water to users outside of your water district or facility, be sure to complete the portion of that form titled "Outside Sales to Other Water Systems or Facilities".
The Water Withdrawal Reporting Form may be completed and submitted online using DEC's online form tool, nForm. Users must have a NY.gov account and use the Chrome, Firefox, or Microsoft Edge browser. If you need assistance creating a NY.gov account or signing-in, contact NY.gov at (518) 474-7497 or (800) 697-1323. If you need assistance completing the annual reporting form, contact us at awqrsdec@dec.ny.gov.
Current Reporting Requirements
Required information on the forms:
- The water source, the location of the water source and the source capacity
- The amount of water withdrawn for the calendar year, including the average and peak withdrawals
- A description of the use of the water withdrawn
- The estimated amounts of water returned, if any, the locations of such returns, and the method of such returns
- The actual or estimated average monthly and annual volumes and rates of water lost or consumptively used from the withdrawal
- The water conservation and efficiency measures undertaken during the reporting period
- Any water user that purchased water from your facility during the previous year
Water Use Reporting Exemptions
The following water withdrawals are exempt from annual reporting requirements:
- Closed loop, standing column, or similar non-extractive geothermal systems
- Withdrawals subject to permits pursuant to ECL Section 15-1527 and Part 602 of 6 NYCRR (leaves DEC website) for Long Island water wells
- On-site water withdrawal systems for approved inactive hazardous waste remedial site programs conducted pursuant to state or federal court order or state or federal government agency agreement or order
- Withdrawals used for fire suppression or other public emergency purposes
- Direct withdrawals from the Atlantic Ocean or Long Island Sound
- Water withdrawals to supply ballast water necessary for lawful and normal vessel activity
- Water withdrawals directly related to routine maintenance and emergency repairs of dams
- Reclaimed wastewater withdrawn for reuse
- Temporary water withdrawals for the purposes of construction, dewatering, hydrostatic testing, or aquifer testing, where the volume withdrawn is less than an average of 100,000 gallons per day in any consecutive thirty-day consecutive period (3 million gallons during a 30 day period).
