Q. Why is it necessary to regulate large groundwater withdrawals?

A. Large groundwater withdrawals have far-reaching effects on both surface water and groundwater. As large withdrawals of groundwater are made, water levels in private wells and surface water bodies decline. It is necessary to ensure the future of one of our most necessary resources, water, by monitoring and protecting our groundwater.

Q. What difference does it make how much water is left in a river?

A. The amount of water in a river is critical for fish spawning, streamside habitat and wetlands, and recreational uses by people. Too little water can also concentrate toxics to harmful levels and destroy fisheries and other wildlife by increasing water temperatures and dissolved oxygen content.

Q. So how does withdrawal permitting help protect rivers?

A. It’s very hard for major water users to know when they are damaging a stream because they are each only one piece of the puzzle. With this legislation state agencies can put the puzzle together, and then work to make sure that all the users are behaving responsibly to solve current problems and avoid future issues.

Q. How do water withdrawals impact human health?

A. Adequate and clean water supplies are critical for a high quality of life. Many communities depend on groundwater for household use. Without clean water, health and sanitation in our communities suffers. Local residents’ water needs have competed with those of water bottling industry in Lancaster, Pennsylvania, Henderson County, Texas and Ontario, Canada.(1) In drought, the bottlers were able to continue, even when their large groundwater withdrawals drained others’ wells.