Rule 2 : Waste or Pollution
A.
Groundwater shall not be
produced, or used, within the District in such a manner, or under such
conditions, as to constitute waste. Groundwater shall not be produced
from an abandoned or deteriorated well.
B.
Any person producing, or
using groundwater, shall use every possible precaution to avoid and
prevent waste.
C.
A well(s), or a borehole,
identified as an abandoned or deteriorated well must be plugged,
covered, or reworked in accordance with the requirements of the District
and any applicable statewide law, agency or political subdivision having
jurisdiction including, but not limited to the Texas Water Well
Driller's Act, Chapters 35 and 36, Texas Water Code, the TCEQ, and
Railroad Commission.
A.
Prior to commencement of
drilling a test hole for a well, a person wishing to explore for
groundwater must file with the District a notice of intent to drill a
test hole. The notice of intent to drill a test hole shall be
accompanied by payment of the prescribed fee(s), and include the
following additional information:
1.
A legal description of the
tract upon which the test hole is proposed to be drilled.
2.
The proposed date for
commencing drilling of the test hole.
3.
The exact location of the
test hole, including the name of the current landowner as listed on the
tax roll as with the volume and page data from the Caldwell or Hays
County Deed Records, and the exact number of yards to the nearest public
road, property line or other legal description, and the survey in which
the land is located.
4.
The name and address of the
driller or contractor.
5.
The date the test hole(s) is
to be drilled.
6.
An acknowledgement that the
person(s) responsible for drilling of the test hole will provide
drilling logs and/or plugging reports to the District upon completion of
the test hole operation.
7.
An acknowledgment that the
test hole will be properly plugged or, if the test hole will be
converted to a water well, the test hole will be capped with a covering
capable of sustaining a weight of at least 400 pounds until the test
hole is converted to a water well.
8.
An acknowledgment that the
person(s) responsible for drilling the test hole will make appropriate
applications to the District pursuant to Rule 4 if the test hole(s) is
not plugged.
B.
Any other information deemed
necessary by the District.
A
All wells, including exempt
wells, must be registered with the District.
B.
All applications for new
well permits, unless otherwise exempted, are subject to spacing
requirements, if any, relative to any approved well permit(s) or
existing registered well(s). Existing wells are not subject to spacing
limits; provided however, that any amendment to increase the well size,
amount or rate of production, of an Existing Well shall be subject to
the District’s spacing and production requirements then in effect.
C. All exempt Existing Wells
shall be registered with the District within one year of the effective
date of the District’s Rules. If a person desires to drill a new exempt
well, they must register such new well prior to the commencement of
drilling.
D.
All wells, whether exempt or
permitted, shall be equipped and maintained in accordance with all
applicable state laws and these Rules as to drilling, installation of
casing, completion, and pipe and fittings to prevent (i) the escape of
groundwater from a groundwater reservoir to any reservoir not containing
groundwater and to prevent the pollution or harmful alteration of the
character of the water in any groundwater reservoir, and (ii) waste.
E.
Each registration and/or
permit application filed with the District shall be accompanied by the
applicable prescribed fee(s).
F.
Unless the drilling and/or
operation of the well is exempt, either by law or by these Rules, no
person shall (i) operate a well, (ii) begin to drill a well, (iii)
perforate an existing well, or (iv) increase the size of an existing
well or a pump therein, without first applying to the District for, and
receiving a permit. Forms for permit applications and registrations
approved by the Board of Resolution will be made available by the
District. An Existing Well for which a permit application is on file
with the District may continue to be operated in a non-wasteful manner
pending action by the District on the application. All applications for
a permits and registrations filed with the District shall include the
following information:
1.
Name and mailing address of
the applicant/registrant and, if different, the owner of land on which
the well is or will be located.
2.
If the applicant/registrant
is other than the owner of the property, documentation establishing the
applicable authority to construct and/or operate the well for the
proposed use.
3.
The location of the Existing
Well or to be drilled, including longitude and latitude coordinates, the
name of the current landowner as listed on the tax rolls with the Volume
and Page data from the Caldwell or Hays County Deed Records, and the
distance in yards to the nearest public road, property line or other
legal description, and the survey in which the land is located.
4.
A statement of the nature
and purpose of the existing/proposed use and the amount of water to be
used for each purpose. Multiple uses of the same quantity of water to
be permitted by the District may be requested, provided that the total
cumulative volume used annually does not exceed the amount authorized by
the permit or exemption issued by the District or authorized by these
Rules; provided, however, that groundwater produced from any exempt
well(s) may only be used for domestic and livestock purposes.
5.
The proposed rate at which
water is or will be withdrawn.
6.
The name and address of the
driller or contractor.
7.
The date proposed drilling
operations are to commence for a new well(s), or the date on which the
well(s) was completed for an Existing Well.
8.
A statement of the location
of the three (3) closest wells and/or permits within one-half mile of
the proposed well(s) location, together with the names and addresses of
the owners of the Property based upon the most current tax rolls, and
the legal descriptions of each location, or permit application or
district well number.
9.
An acknowledgment by the
applicant/registrant that required information will be furnished to the
District by the applicant/registrant upon completion of the well(s) and
prior to production of water therefrom.
10.
A water conservation and
drought contingency plan, or a declaration that the applicant/registrant
will comply with the District’s Groundwater Management Plan, including
any water conservation and drought contingency plans.
11.
A list of landowners
adjacent to the tract for which the application is submitted as listed
on the tax rolls of Caldwell or Hays County, as applicable.
12.
A water well closure plan,
or a declaration that the applicant/registrant will comply with well
plugging guidelines and report closure to the TCEQ and the District.
13.
A representation that the
well(s) was, or will be, drilled, equipped and completed in accordance
with District Rules.
14.
Acknowledgment that the
well(s) will be properly plugged in accordance with District Rules.
15.
Any other additional
information deemed necessary by the District and authorized by Chapter
36, Texas Water Code.
G.
To obtain a “Water Well
Production Permit” for a new well, the drilling permit number assigned
to that well by the District and the following additional information
shall be provided to the District immediately upon completion of a new
well(s), or the reworking or re-equipping of an existing well(s) on
forms provided by the District:
1.
Copies of any either (i)
other applications for permits previously submitted to, and/or (ii)
permits issued by the District for the subject well.
2.
The drilling log(s) prepared
during the drilling of the subject well.
3.
Identification of the
aquifer(s) from which water will be produced and the screening or
perforation interval(s).
4.
The proposed use of the
well(s).
5.
The total number of gallons
per minute the pump(s) is capable of producing.
6.
The rate at which the
well(s) is going to be produced in gallons per minute.
7.
The volume of water to be
produced annually.
8.
The number of contiguous
acres owned or leased by the applicant/registrant from which groundwater
is to be produced as recorded in the Caldwell or Hays County Deed
Records.
9.
Additional information that
may be required by the Board, and authorized by Chapter 36, Texas Water
Code.
H.
To obtain a Water Well
Production Permit for an Existing Well the following additional
information shall be provided to the District on forms provided by the
District:
1.
The purposes of use for
which water has historically been produced.
2.
The highest volume of water
produced during any consecutive twelve (12) month period, including
documentary evidence corroborating such production and use.
3.
The number of contiguous
acres owned or leased from which the groundwater has been produced from
the Existing Well.
4.
Additional information that
may be required by the Board, and authorized by Chapter 36, Texas Water
Code.
I.
To obtain a “Transportation
Facility Permit” or, if exempt from the District’s permit requirements,
a “Registration,” the following additional information shall be provided
to the District:
1.
The name and address of the
owner(s) and/or operator(s) of the transportation facility.
2.
The legal description of the
location of the well(s), including the longitude and latitude
coordinates, from which groundwater to be transported is to be produced.
3.
A map reflecting the
location of the well(s) and the transportation facilities.
4.
The name(s) and address(es)
of the water right owner(s) of the land(s) upon which the well(s) from
which water is to be produced and transported is located.
5.
The permit registration
number(s) of the well(s) used to produce water to be transported.
6.
A technical description of
the well(s) that are producing water for transportation including, but
not limited to:
(a)
a copy of the driller’s
log(s) for each well anticipated to contribute groundwater to the
transportation facilities;
(b)
a completion record showing
the depth of the well(s), the casing diameter, type and setting, and the
perforated interval(s);
(c)
the size of the pump(s) used
to produce groundwater to be transported; and the date the well(s) was
drilled.
7.
The use of groundwater
transported.
8.
The volume of groundwater
transported, if any, during the previous calendar year.
9.
A technical description of
the facilities used to transport groundwater.
10.
The names and addresses of
the property owner(s) within one-half (1/2) mile of the location of the
well(s) from which water to be transported is to be produced, and the
location of any well(s) on those properties.
11.
The time schedule for
construction and/or operation of any new transportation facilities.
12.
A copy of the construction
and operation plans, including but not limited to, the following:
(a)
A technical description of
the proposed well(s) and production facilities, including depth of the
well(s) the casing diameter, type and setting, the perforated
interval(s), and the size of pump(s);
(b)
A technical description of
the facilities to be used for transportation of water;
(c)
Information showing the
effect, if any, of the proposed transportation on the quantity and
quality of water available within the District.
13.
Identify any other possible
sources which could be used for the stated purposes, including quality
and quantity of such alternate sources.
14.
Identify any other water
sources, including treated effluent and greywater, that could be
substituted for the fresh groundwater and possible sources of such water
sources including quantity and quality.
15.
Credible scientific evidence
that the proposed operation will not cause pollution, waste, or
subsidence.
16.
Additional pertinent
information that may be required by the Board, and authorized by Chapter
36, Texas Water Code.
J.
To obtain a “Recharge Well
Permit,” the drilling permit number assigned to that well by the
District and the following additional information shall be provided to
the District immediately upon completion of a new well, or the reworking
or re-equipping of an existing well(s) for purposes of conducting
recharge on forms provided by the District:
1.
The name and address of the
water right owner(s) of the land upon which the recharge facility will
be located.
2.
The legal description,
including longitude and latitude coordinates, of the exact proposed
location of the recharge facility.
3.
Copies of all permit(s) for
any well(s) intended to be used for recharge.
4.
The time schedule for
construction and/or operation of the recharge facility.
5.
The names and addresses of
the property owner(s) within one-half (1/2) mile of the proposed
recharge facility location, and the location of any well(s) on those
properties.
6.
A copy of construction and
operation plans, including but not limited to, the following
information:
(a)
A technical description of
the facilities to be used for recharge.
(b)
The source of the water to
be recharged.
(c)
The quality of water to be
recharged.
(d)
The volume of water to be
recharged.
(e)
The rate at which the water
will be recharged.
(f)
The formation into which
water will be recharged.
(g)
Technical analysis of the
applicant’s ability to recover the recharged water for beneficial
purposes, less reasonably predictable losses, including beneficial use
by third parties.
7.
Credible scientific evidence
showing that the proposed operation will not:
(a)
Endanger the structural
characteristics of the formation receiving the recharged water.
(b)
Cause waste.
(c)
Cause pollution.
8.
Any additional pertinent
information that reasonably may be required by the Board.
K.
To the extent any
information required by this Rule previously has been provided to the
District, the applicant can satisfy said requirements of this Rule by
reference to the prior filing, and attaching a copy thereof to the
current application.
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