What is the difference between an exempt and non-exempt well?

Posted: June 29th, 2022

An exempt well is a well that is not a public water supply well and not capable of producing more than 17.36 gallons per minute or is used solely for domestic, livestock, poultry, or agricultural purposes. An exempt well is exempt from permitting and is not required to have a Grandfathered Use Permit or Operating Permit to withdraw water from an aquifer within the District. If you are unsure whether your well is exempt, please contact the District staff, we can assist.

A non-exempt well is a well capable of producing more than 17.36 gallons per minute, and must submit semi-annual water well production reports to the District at a rate of $0.155 per 1,000 gallons. 

The District has grandfathered use permits and production permits.

Grandfathered wells that were completed and operational prior to December 17, 2018 and that are not exempt from the District’s permitting requirements may complete this application for a Grandfathered Use Permit from the District if the following conditions are met: (1) The water well produced groundwater at any time from January 1, 2014 to December 17, 2018; and (2) the owner submits an application and accompanying documents to the District on or before December 31, 2023. 

All new wells that are not exempt from the District’s permitting requirements and all new or existing wells that were exempt from the District’s permitting requirements, but are substantially altered in a manner that causes the well to lose its exempt status must obtain an Operating Permit from the District.