Water use permits

Requirements

A water use (appropriation) permit from DNR Waters is required for all users withdrawing more than 10,000 gallons of water per day or 1 million gallons per year.

There are several exemptions to water appropriation permit requirements:

• domestic uses serving less than 25 persons for general residential purposes,
• test pumping of a ground water source,
• reuse of water already authorized by a permit (e.g., water purchased from a municipal water system), or
• certain agricultural drainage systems (check with your area hydrologist for applicability).

Permit Application

To apply for a water appropriation permit, download and print one of the following application forms or request that a form be sent to you by mail. Complete the form furnishing all requested information and supporting documents. Mail the forms to your regional DNR office. Please do not submit fees with the permit application, you will be billed separately (usually $150). Minnesota Statutes allow local units of government 30 days to review permit applications and submit comments to DNR Waters.

• Permit Application Forms to download and print:
  Irrigation	Water Appropriation Permit Application Form
  Non-Irrigation	Water Appropriation Permit Application Form
  DNR Water Permit Application Fees

Chemigation permit information can be found at the Minnesota Department of Agriculture Web site. See: Chemigation permit information.

Temporary Projects General Permit 1997-0005

This general permit authorizes temporary water appropriations for construction dewatering, landscaping, dust control, and hydrostatic testing of pipelines, tanks, and wastewater ponds.

To be included under General Permit 1997-0005 the project must meet the following criteria:

• Projects must have a minimal potential for causing adverse environmental impacts,
• Water appropriations cannot exceed 50 million gallons per year,
• Water appropriations must be completed within one year from the start of pumping,
• The Area Hydrologist for the county in which the project is located must be notified at least five days prior to the start of pumping. The information packet below has a form that can be used to satisfy notification requirements,
• Water volumes must be measured and reported upon completion of the project. A $140 water use report processing fee is required for projects that expect to exceed 15 million gallons.

For more information please download the following packet of information which includes the complete text of the permit language:

Temporary Water Appropriations General Permit 1997-0005 Information Packet

Animal Feedlots and Livestock Operations General Permit 2004-0275

This general permit authorizes groundwater appropriations up to 5 million gallons per year for livestock watering and sanitation purposes.

To be included under General Permit 2004-0275, animal feedlots and livestock operations must comply with all conditions and limitations of the permit and meet the following criteria:

• Operations must have a minimal potential for causing adverse environmental impacts,
• Water appropriations cannot exceed 5 million gallons per year,
• This permit is only valid for animal feedlot and livestock operations that are in compliance with all feedlot rules and regulations required by the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency and county feedlot programs,
• If requested by the Department, a permit notification form must be submitted in order to determine if an operation qualifies for authorization under this permit,
• Records of monthly and annual water appropriation volumes must be maintained and submitted to the Department upon request.

For more information please download the following packet of information which includes the complete text of the permit language:

Animal Feedlots and Livestock Operations General Permit 2004-0275 Information Packet

Water Use Reporting

All active water appropriation permit holders are required to measure monthly water use with an approved measuring device to an accuracy of 10 percent and report water use yearly. Permit holders receive water use reporting forms each year to report their water use. Completed forms and processing fee are due by February 15 of each year.

Water Use Report Directions 2007
Metering Brochure (included with application forms)
Meter Reading Record Sheet
Holding Tank Record Sheet
Timing Device Record Sheet

Water Use Fees

Fee Schedule for water use fees

2008 Water Use Fee Increase Information

Permit Amendments

Permit holders must request to amend their permits if changes are made to their water systems, including:

• number of installations (wells, pumping stations),
• pumping rate,
• volume of water required, or
• number of acres irrigated or irrigated area.

All amendment requests should be submitted in writing. A $150 must be paid for each request to amend or transfer a permit (subject to fee exemptions listed below).

Transfers

Requests for transfers of permits to new land owners should be submitted in writing. State the name of the new owner, contact information, and date of the sale or transfer. Proof of the new ownership is required, which can be a copy of the deed, tax document, lease agreement, or other suitable instrument. A $150 must be paid for each request to amend or transfer a permit (subject to fee exemptions listed below).

Termination

Permit holders who no longer require their water use permits should request termination in writing. Water use reports and fees are due for each year in which a permit is active. A fee is not required to terminate a permit.

Fee Exemptions

Minnesota Rules 6115.0120 state the following amendment or transfer fee exemptions:

• a change in mailing address;
• a change of authorized agent when land ownership has not changed;
• an assignment of a permit within the immediate family;
• a change in pump location on surface water sources for the same operation;
• an addition of a new well that replaces an old well for the same permitted operation and that is completed at a similar depth in the same aquifer;
• a decrease in the permitted pumping rate, amount of water authorized, or irrigated acreage;
• an increase in the permitted pumping rate within 10 percent;
• an increase in the permitted appropriation within ten percent of the annual authorization for non-irrigation permits; and
• an increase of less than 30 acres in the number of permitted irrigated acres.

Minnesota Statutes 103G.301 state the following permit application, amendment, and transfer fee exemptions:

• any state agency, as defined in section 16B.01, or federal governmental agency

Permit Suspensions Due to Dry Conditions

In order to safeguard water availability for natural environments and downstream higher priority users, Minnesota law requires the DNR to limit consumptive appropriations of surface water under certain low flow conditions. Should conditions warrant, DNR Waters may suspend surface water appropriation permits as determined by its Surface Water Appropriation Permit Issuance and Suspension Procedures (2.07MB).

Discussion of conditions that can lead to permit suspensions:

• Notice to Surface Water Users, December 2000 (441KB)