CGA information on Executive Order N-7-22

In March, Governor Newsome signed Executive Order N-7-22, declaring a drought emergency in all counties of California. Section 9 of the EO includes a provision that attempts to “safeguard groundwater supplies” by scrutinizing the water well permitting process.

The EO also attempts to minimize the effects of the drought by promoting water conservation through enactment of public water suppliers’ Level 2 water shortage contingency plans; ensuring vulnerable communities have drinking water by cutting red tape to emergency hauled or bottled water; streamlining permits for groundwater recharge projects; expediting state agency approval for necessary actions when drought conditions threaten vulnerable fish and wildlife health and survival; and preventing illegal water diversions by directing the Water Board to expand site inspections.

Section 9 of the EO attempts to safeguard groundwater supplies by requiring local water well permitting authorities to coordinate with the Groundwater Sustainability Agencies of medium and high priority Sustainable Groundwater Management Act (SGMA) basins and to ensure that new proposed wells do not negatively impact existing wells or infrastructure. This requirement “shall not apply to permits for wells that will provide less than two acre-feet per year of groundwater for individual domestic users, or that will exclusively provide groundwater to public water supply systems as defined in section 116275 of the Health and Safety Code.”

The CGA needs to know the following from each of our members:

1. What has been the financial impact of the EO to your company?
2. How has this effected your customer(s)?
3. What county do you live in?
4. What county or counties does your company service?

Thank you. By sharing this information with the CGA, you will help us continue to work on this with key associations and elected officials.

You can email Dave Schulenberg at daves@groundh2o.org or call the CGA office at 916-231-2134 to discuss further.

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