The Water Withdrawal Reporting Act:

• Establishes a system for obtaining information concerning the withdrawal of water from sources in the state and providing this information to the public.
• Requires each person who makes a withdrawal of water from a water source in excess of either 20,000 gallons a month or 10,000 gallons in any one day to file a water withdrawal report with the appropriate state agency.
• Does not require that water users change their practices, but simply provides the basic information needed to develop long-term, sustainable policies.

This bill is needed because:

• Development pressures are increasing around the country, and it is important that a state be able to track water usage in order to plan policies accordingly.
• Generally, states do not have an adequate database to assess, prevent, and find sustainable solutions to water use issues. Complete information is essential for effective planning and management.
• Competition among water users will only increase, and it is in everyone’s best interest to have accurate facts as the basis for negotiations.
• Major water withdrawals have the potential to do as much harm to a stream as toxins. The public has a right to know if someone is damaging their streams – whether by dumping poisons or removing water.
• In the face of severe droughts, better water accounting would help state officials quickly target their efforts to maximize conservation efforts and minimize public inconvenience.