Water Well Construction
Any person who intends to construct a new or replacement water well designed and constructed to pump fifty (50) gallons per minute must first apply to the Upper Loup NRD. Exceptions to this include: test holes, dewatering wells with an intended use of ninety (90) days or less, a single water well designed and constructed to pump forty-nine (49) gallons per minute or less and monitoring or observation wells.
The application for the construction of a high capacity well shall be accompanied by a $50.00 filing fee payable to the NRD. Water well permits shall expire one (1) year from date of approval.
The application for the construction of a high capacity industrial/commercial well shall be accompanied by a $500.00 filing fee payable to the ULNRD and in addition to the information required on the application provide: a hydrological evaluation, performed by a professional engineering firm, conducted at applicant’s expense, showing the potential impact of the withdrawal to water quantity, water quality, on current groundwater and surface water users and a minimum 20-year impact on groundwater and surface water for potential future uses. Reimbursement to the District for its actual costs expended for peer review and assessment of the hydrologic evaluation.
No refund of any application fees shall be made regardless of whether the permit is issued, canceled, or denied. Any person who has failed or in the future fails to obtain a permit before construction is commenced shall make application for a late permit on forms provided by the District. The application for a late permit shall be accompanied by a $250 late fee payable to the NRD
The NRD will review such applications and issue the approved permit, with or without conditions, or deny the permit within thirty (30) days after the application is properly prepared and received.
No new well requiring a well construction permit, except for a backup well, shall be constructed upon any land in this District within 300 feet from any active domestic well or within 1,320 feet of any other irrigation, industrial, commercial, or public water supply well, regardless of ownership or within 50 feet of the bank of a channel of any natural stream. Any replacement high-capacity water well must be constructed within 1,320 feet of the well that is being replaced and abide by spacing requirements listed above.
All high-capacity wells must be equipped with a flowmeter.