The California Groundwater Association is seeking input from its members on how Executive Order N-7-22 signed by Governor Gavin Newsom on March 28 is affecting business.
The executive order declared a drought emergency in all counties of California. Section 9 of the executive order includes a provision attempting to “safeguard groundwater supplies” by scrutinizing the water well permitting process.
The executive order attempts to minimize the effects of the drought by promoting water conservation through enactment of Level 2 water shortage contingency plans of public water suppliers, ensuring vulnerable communities have drinking water by cutting red tape to emergency-hauled or bottled water, streamlining permits for groundwater recharge projects, expediting state agency approval for necessary actions when drought conditions threaten vulnerable fish and wildlife health and survival, and preventing illegal water diversions by directing the State Water Resources Control Board to expand site inspections.
Section 9 of the executive order attempts to “safeguard groundwater supplies” by requiring local water well permitting authorities to coordinate with the Groundwater Sustainability Agencies of medium and high priority Sustainable Groundwater Management Act (SGMA) basins and to ensure that new proposed wells do not negatively impact existing wells or infrastructure.
However, this requirement states it “shall not apply to permits for wells that will provide less than two acre-feet per year of groundwater for individual domestic users, or that will exclusively provide groundwater to public water supply systems as defined in Section 116275 of the Health and Safety Code.”
The CGA is asking the following:
- What has been the financial impact of the executive order to your company?
- How has this affected your customers?
- What county do you live in?
- What county or counties does your company service?
Please provide the following information to CGA Executive Director Dave Schulenberg at daves@groundh2o.org or call (916) 231-2134.
Click here to read Executive Order N-7-22.