As used in Section 1020.1 et seq. of this title: 1. “Groundwater” means fresh water and marginal water under the surface of the earth regardless of the geologic structure in which it is standing or moving outside the cut bank of any definite stream; 2. “Domestic use” means the use of water by a natural […]
A. The procedures provided for in this chapter for the granting of regular permits shall be applicable to the granting of temporary or special permits except that the determination of the maximum annual yield shall not be a condition precedent. Provided a provisional temporary permit for water may immediately be granted upon administrative approval by […]
A. Regular Permit. A regular permit is an authorization to put groundwater to beneficial use for other than domestic purposes. The regular permit shall be granted only after completion of the hydrologic survey and determination of the maximum annual yield for the appropriate basin or subbasin. It can be revoked or canceled only as provided […]
A. Holders of permits shall be required to report to the Oklahoma Water Resources Board annually their use of water pursuant to their permits. Willful failure to report annual usage may result in cancellation of the permit by the Board upon proper notice and hearing as provided in the Administrative Procedures Act. B. Holders of […]
The Board may accept the surrender of ground water permits by the holder thereof pursuant to rules and regulations adopted by the Board. Added by Laws 1972, c. 248, § 13, eff. July 1, 1973.
Nothing in this act shall be construed to deprive any person of any right to the use of ground water in such quantities and amounts as were used or were entitled to be used prior to the enactment hereof. Any person having the right to place ground water to beneficial use prior to the effective […]
A. The Oklahoma Water Resources Board shall not permit any groundwater user to commit waste by: 1. Drilling a well, taking, or using groundwater without a permit, except for domestic use; 2. Taking more groundwater than is authorized by the permit; 3. Taking or using groundwater in any manner so that the water is lost […]
A. All persons engaged in the commercial drilling or commercial plugging of groundwater wells, monitoring wells, observation wells, wells utilized for heat exchange purposes, including but not limited to heat pump wells and geothermal wells, and in the commercial drilling or plugging of geotechnical borings and all persons engaged in the commercial installation of water […]
The Board may promulgate rules under Article I of the Administrative Procedures Act which establish a proper spacing of wells which, in its judgment, is necessary to an orderly withdrawal of water in relation to the allocation, by regular permits and temporary permits, of water to the land overlying the basin or subbasin. The Board […]
When it is shown in an individual proceeding that to require the drilling of a well at the prescribed location should be inequitable or unreasonable and that criteria and conditions established by the Board in rules are met, the Board shall authorize a well location exception and permit the well to be drilled and completed […]
Upon request of a majority of the landowners residing within a basin or subbasin, the Board is authorized to require that water wells be metered and that such meters as the Board shall approve be utilized by the applicant and placed under seal, subject to reading by the agents of the Board at any time. […]
A. It is hereby declared to be the public policy of this state, in the interest of the agricultural stability, domestic, municipal, industrial and other beneficial uses, general economy, health and welfare of the state and its citizens, to utilize the ground water resources of the state, and for that purpose to provide reasonable regulations […]
The owners of land and the Commissioners of the Land Office are authorized to unitize and communitize lands for the purpose of production of water therefrom; provided, the production therefrom does not exceed the maximum annual yield. Added by Laws 1972, c. 248, § 20, eff. July 1, 1973.
A municipality has the authority to regulate or permit the drilling of domestic and industrial water wells within its corporate limits. A municipality may use the water allocated to the platted land within its corporate limits provided the municipality can make water available to the platted land, and a permit therefor is obtained from the […]
A. Except as otherwise provided by subsection C of this section, any person who, after notice from the Oklahoma Water Resources Board, violates or refuses or neglects to comply with any provision of Sections 1020.1 through 1020.21 of this title, or any permit condition, or of any rule or regulation promulgated by the Board pursuant […]
A. The ability to take and use marginal water has the potential to augment water supply in many areas of Oklahoma. Therefore, the taking and use of marginal water in accordance with the Oklahoma Groundwater Law and the rules of the Oklahoma Water Resources Board shall be considered a beneficial use and not waste. Except […]
A. The storage and recovery of water from an aquifer, pursuant to a site-specific aquifer storage and recovery plan approved by the Oklahoma Water Resources Board, shall be considered a beneficial use and not waste. Except as provided in this section and Section 1020.15 of Title 82 of the Oklahoma Statutes, the provisions of this […]
Any landowner has a right to take ground water from land owned by him for domestic use without a permit. Wells for domestic use shall not be subject to well spacing orders, but are subject to sanctions against waste. Added by Laws 1972, c. 248, § 3, eff. July 1, 1973.
A. Prior to making orders establishing the tentative maximum annual yield for major groundwater basins or subbasins therein, the Oklahoma Water Resources Board shall make hydrologic surveys and investigations. B. Prior to making orders establishing the tentative maximum annual yield for minor groundwater basins or subbasins therein, the Board shall prepare reports using information from […]
A. After completing the hydrologic survey, the Board shall make a tentative determination of the maximum annual yield of groundwater to be produced from each ground water basin or subbasin therein. Such determination must be based upon the following: 1. The total land area overlying the basin or subbasin; 2. The amount of water in […]
