This checklist outlines information and documents necessary to apply for a water use permit. Bringing these materials to the pre-application meeting may allow you to submit the application that day.
Need help with this process? Our water use regulation staff can help.
Information and documentation to bring to a pre-application meeting
Water Use Permit Number (if the application is for modification or renewal of an existing WUP)
Estimate of Quantities Needed (bring plans and documentation) – For the activity proposed, know about how much water you will need (annual average, peak month, and maximum daily) for six years, ten years, or up to the expiration date of the current permit if you are applying to modify an existing WUP. In some cases where withdrawals of water do not have the potential to impact areas of water resource concerns, a twenty year permit may be issued.
Copies of Documents – Appropriate number of copies of all application forms, supplemental information forms and documents are required: three copies for Individual WUPs, two for General and Small General WUPs.
Property ownership documentation – A copy of the deed (monetary or tax-payer ID information may be blacked out) is required for all new and renewal applications. At least one of the applicants must be a property owner. Property owned by multiple parties must have all owners as co-applicants and all owners’ signatures. Have signed documentation of authority to sign the Water Use Permit applications for other owners if they do not sign the application themselves. If the property is not owned but is controlled, attach such documentation.
Legal description of property (copy of tax assessor’s written description)
- Acreage owned or controlled.
- Acreage leased. Note: If a withdrawal point which is to be used is located on the leased acreage, that landowner must be a co-permittee.
- Acreage serviced. This is acreage that is not directly utilized by you, but for which quantities are requested for the landowner's needs to be provided by your withdrawal points.
Alternative Sources of Water – Have information on the annual average and peak month quantities of alternative source available for use at the property. There are three types of alternative uses listed below. If you receive reclaimed waste water, have the information listed under reclaimed water.
- Reclaimed Waste Water
- Copy of agreement between supplier and you, and
- Supplier’s DEP Waste Water Facility Permit Number or NPDES (National Pollutant Discharge and Elimination System) number.
- Captured Excess Stormwater
- Desalination
Aerial Maps – Aerial photographic map(s) that are less than three years old of all property to be covered under the permit are required for all permits. They are available from the county. The maps must be labeled with the following:
- North arrow
- Scale designation — all maps should have a scale of 1" = 2,000' or less
- Landmarks such as roads
- Property boundaries
- Well, surface water withdrawal points and monitoring site locations
- Area serviced or irrigated. If the area serviced or irrigated is too far to show on one map, provide separate map(s).
Site Map – If the aerial map is large enough, you may annotate it with the following information. If not, bring a separate map that includes the off-site area described in Table 1 or Table 2 below.
- Approximate location of other wells, including monitoring sites, which are not owned by you (the applicant). These include, but are not limited to domestic wells, irrigation wells, public water supply wells, etc., which are located within the distances given in Table 1 below. (Supplemental locations at a greater distance may be required depending upon location and water quantities needed.)
- Wetlands greater than 0.5 acre in size covering the area within the distance given in Table 1, below.
Nearby Property Owners’ Names and Mailing Addresses – It is required that nearby property owners be notified when applications for water use permits which may affect them are submitted to the District. The applicant has to supply this information with each application. The list of nearby property owners must be from the latest tax rolls plus any new owners not yet on the tax rolls but of whom you have actual knowledge. Whom to include is based on the type of withdrawal point (well, mine pit, or surface withdrawal).
- Well(s) or Mine Pits: If the application is for a withdrawal from a well or mine pit, unless the mine pit will be reclaimed or the withdrawal terminated within two years of initiation, you are required to submit the complete names and mailing addresses of property owners within the distance criteria given in Table 1. The distance criteria are based on the quantity of water to be withdrawn on an annual average basis. You may choose to list the owners of property a certain distance from your property boundary or from your withdrawal points.
| TABLE 1 – Annual Average Quantity Criteria: Total Quantities from Well(s) or Mine Pit(s) Gallons Per Day (gpd) |
Distance Criteria: From Well or Mine Pit |
Distance Criteria: From Property Boundary |
|---|---|---|
| Single day greater than 1,000,000 gpd but less than or equal to 5,000,000 gpd. Annual Average greater than 100,000 gpd but not more than 500,000 gpd. |
660 feet or | 100 feet |
| Single day greater than 5,000,000 gpd but not more than 10,000,000 gpd. Annual Average greater than 500,000 gpd but not more than 1,000,000 gpd. |
1,320 feet or | 200 feet |
| Single day greater than 10,000,000 gpd. Annual Average greater than 1,000,000 gpd. |
2,640 feet or | 400 feet |
- Surface Water Withdrawal Point: If the application is for a surface water withdrawal, the names and addresses for the following nearby property owners have to be submitted. The distance criteria is based on the size and type of surface water body.
| TABLE 2 – Surface water withdrawal from a . . . | Distance Criteria |
|---|---|
| Lake/pond/impoundment less than 80 acres in area | All riparian owners on the lake |
| Lake/pond/impoundment greater than 80 acres | Riparian owners 660 feet extending in both directions from where your property intersects the shoreline |
| Stream or watercourse and less than or equal to 5,000,000 gpd will be withdrawn in a single day | Riparian owners 660 feet upstream and 1,320 feet downstream from your withdrawal point |
| Stream or watercourse and greater than 5,000,000 gpd will be withdrawn in a single day | Riparian owners 1,320 feet upstream and 2,640 feet downstream from your withdrawal point |
Note: After impacts are assessed by District staff, if there are substantial off-site drawdown impacts, additional aerial coverage for potentially affected persons may be required.
Withdrawal Points – Have the following information available for all withdrawal pipes (wells and/or surface water withdrawal points) on the property which are greater than 2 inches in diameter, whether it is active, intermittently active, or inactive, and whether it is existing or proposed. The total depth and casing depth information for wells must be supported by either a valid well completion report or a wire-line log (caliper or video).
- Wells
- Total depth
- Casing depth, including any telescoped casing and liner(s)
- Outer diameter at the surface (casing diameter)
- Surface water withdrawal point
- Outer diameter of the pipe into the surface water body
- Name of water body
- Main line outer diameter (discharge pipe from a well or surface water withdrawal point)
- Pump capacity (in gallons per minute)
- Construction date (if existing)
- Planned construction date (if proposed)
- Proposed status of the withdrawal points
- Existing – The withdrawal point is to be used to pump water regularly.
- Standby – A withdrawal point which is not to be used unless another withdrawal point becomes inoperable. Know which withdrawal points are to be standby for which active withdrawal points.
- Capped – A well which is capped in a water tight manner and is not going to be used at all.
- Rotation – A withdrawal point that is only used on a rotational basis as fields cultivated are rotated into use (farmed) and out of use (fallow). Know the other withdrawal points to be used in the rotation schedule. The withdrawal point assigned to the highest acreage/highest annual average quantities will be listed as the active withdrawal point on the permit.
- Repump – A surface water withdrawal point that pumps from a lake or impoundment into which another withdrawal point (usually a well) has pumped water. Do not include surface water routing pumps used in the surface water management system.
- Monitor – A well (or piezometer), staff gauge, rain gauge, evaporation pan, etc. that is to monitor water level, water quality, rainfall, evaporation rates, etc., for this permit.
- Ganged withdrawal points – If any withdrawal points are joined together prior to the meter placement, bring information on the configuration.
- Meter information – If there are meters on any withdrawal points, know the manufacturer, model type and serial number. If the District requires a withdrawal point to be metered, the meter must be a non-resettable, totalizing flow meter.
Quantities Per Withdrawal – For those withdrawal points that are proposed to be active or intermittently active, have an idea of how much water is needed on an annual average, peak month and maximum daily basis. This is done by assigning a definite use to each withdrawal point on the property.
Regional and Site-Specific Hydrogeology – If you intend to use ground water, include hydrogeologic information on the aquifer characteristics for all aquifers that will be used. If your proposed annual average quantities are 100,000 gpd or greater, include the aquifer(s) above and below the one(s) which are going to be used. Provide documentation and references in support of this information. If you do not have such information, hydrogeologic testing may be required either as additional information in support of your application, as a condition of the permit, or both. The District may use appropriate regional data in lieu of or in addition to submitted information to assess the impacts of your withdrawals. New hydrogeologic testing should follow the guidelines of the WUP Basis of Review, Part C, Water Use Design Aids 
.
Surface Water Hydrology – If you intend to use a lake or impoundment as the source of water, include information on the lake acreage, lake stage elevation(s), connected wetland areas, littoral shelf width and slope, types of vegetation on the littoral shelves, and connections to other lakes. If the proposed withdrawal is from a watercourse, have information on the historical flow rates as well as locations of flow monitoring sites.
Adverse Impacts – If you are aware of any impacts that your withdrawals have or may have on other water users, off-site land uses, the water resources, or environmental features, provide a detailed explanation of the impact and your plans to pre-mitigate such impacts.
Fees – If you wish to submit a completed application at the pre-application meeting, you will have to submit the appropriate non-refundable processing fee. They are:
- Individual:
- New = $1,000
- Renewal = $750
- Modification = $300
- General:
- New = $250
- Renewal = $185
- Modification = $75
- Small General:
- New = $50
- Renewal = $35
- Modification = $15
There is no charge for Letter Modifications or if an application is withdrawn and then resubmitted within 365 days for the same type WUP (Small General, General, Individual) on the same property.
