MS HB16

Department of Environmental Quality shall develop a program to place meters on irrigation wells to monitor water withdrawal and determine if wells exceed allotted amounts established by the Permit Board.

Permit Board shall set fees to cover the costs of meters, installation, and monitoring of water withdrawals from irrigation wells.

Commission on Environmental Quality shall promulgate rules and regulations to administer the metering program.

Adds irrigation wells exceeding allotted amounts as a condition for which the commission may issue a water use warning or declare a water use caution area under Mississippi Code Section 51-3-11.

Effective date is July 1, 2014.