Drinking Water Source Protection Program

Large Groundwater Withdrawal Permitting

In 1998, two State laws, the Groundwater Protection Act and the Safe Drinking Water Act, were amended to ensure that undesirable impacts to water resources from new large groundwater withdrawals are identified and addressed. Any groundwater withdrawal from a new well having a maximum withdrawal of 57,600 gallons per day or more is considered to be a large groundwater withdrawal.

The Large Groundwater Withdrawal Rules include a two-tiered approach to assessing the potential impacts of a proposed withdrawal. A new large groundwater withdrawal will be designated as either minor or major based upon the magnitude of the proposed withdrawal and/or the potential impacts associated with developing a new withdrawal at a given site. A new large groundwater withdrawal with a minor designation will have to undergo a less intense hydrogeologic analysis and testing program than that of a withdrawal with major designation.

Rules

	Env-Ws 387 Rule for Minor Groundwater Withdrawal
	Env-Ws 388 Rule for Major Groundwater Withdrawal
	Note: Certain projects may fall under the jurisdiction of additional rules such as those for New Sources of Bottled Water, New Community Well Siting, etc. Please contact the Program Staff listed below to discuss your specific project.

Related Documents

	Form Letter Requesting Access to Monitor Water Levels in a Private Residential Well
	Groundwater Permitting Policies [pdf]
	Private Well Questionnaire [pdf]
	Sample Legal Notice for Public Notification - Notice of a Public Hearing
	Sample Public Notification Letter to public water suppliers and municipalities
	Large Groundwater Withdrawal Permit Application Notification Form
	Electronic Data Reporting File Template [Excel]
	Electronic Data Reporting Guidelines [pdf]

Fact Sheets

	CO-GEO-9 Automated Streamflow Frequency and Recharge Estimation Tool for Streams and Watersheds in New Hampshire
	WD-DWGB-22-11 Large Groundwater Withdrawals Approval and Notification Requirements
	WD-DWGB-22-13 Water Rights and the Groundwater Protection Act
	WD-DWGB-22-15 Large Groundwater Withdrawal Permitting Process for Major Projects
	WD-DWGB-22-19 FAQs Regarding Large Groundwater Withdrawal Permitting
	WD-DWGB-22-24 Sanitary Practices for Monitoring Water Levels in Drinking Water Supply Wells

Technical References

	Development of Regression Equations to Estimate Flow Durations and Low-Flow-Frequency Statistics in New Hampshire Streams - Water Resource Investigation Report 02-4298
	Generalized estimates from streamflow data of annual and seasonal ground-water-recharge rates for drainage basins in New Hampshire - Scientific Investigation Report 2004-5019

Program Staff

	Stephen Roy, (603) 271-0660 or stephen.roy@des.nh.gov
	Christine Bowman, (603) 271-8866 or christine.bowman@des.nh.gov