Frequently Asked Questions

What is the law?
Who is required to register?
Is registration waived for any particular water users?
If I own multiple facilities, do I need to register each one separately?
What is the due date for registering withdrawals and transfers?
What is the due date for updating an existing registration?
Once registered, what is the due date for submitting annual water use reports?
Is there a fee to register?
Is there a penalty for not registering a withdrawal?
Is there a penalty for failing to update a registration?
Who do I make checks payable to?
I'm not sure if I'm registered, how can I find that information?
Why is it important that I register my withdrawals?

What is the law?
North Carolina General Statute G.S. 143-215.22H requires water users who meet conditions set forth by the general assembly to register their water withdrawals and surface water transfers. Registrations must be updated at least every five years.

Who is required to register?
The owner of facilities that withdraw water or transfers surface water is required to register water use for all facilities they own that withdraw or transfer water if the combined withdrawals or transfers exceed the thresholds specified in the statute.

  • Any non-agricultural water user who withdraws 100,000 gallons or more of ground water or surface water in any one day.
  • Any non-agricultural water user who transfers 100,000 gallons or more of surface water from one river basin as defined in GS 143-215.22G to another basin in any one day.
  • Any agricultural water user who withdraws 1,000,000 gallons or more in any one day of ground water or surface water.
  • Any agricultural water user who transfers 1,000,000 gallons or more from of surface water one river basin as defined in GS 143-215.22G to another basin in any one day.

Is registration of water withdrawals under GS 143-215.22H waived for any particular water users?
NO, but separate registrations are not required for some water withdrawers:

  • Units of local government that are required to prepare a Local Water Supply Plan under GS 143- 355(l) meet the registration requirement by submitting and updating a Local Water Supply Plan.
  • Water users in the Central Coastal Plain Capacity Use Area can meet the registration requirement by registering their water use under the Capacity Use Area Rules. Users that are required to get a water use permit under these rules meet the registration requirement by applying for a permit.
  • Owners of dams that discharge water at the toe of the dam; however, if water is diverted offstream or discharged downstream of the dam, it is considered a water withdrawal and must be registered if the amount of water diverted exceeds the limits specified above.

If I own multiple facilities, do I need to register each one separately?
Yes, if you meet the water withdrawal and transfer criteria a separate form is required for each facility owned.

What is the due date for registering withdrawals and transfers?
New withdrawals and transfers must be registered within two months of the initiation of the withdrawal or transfer.

What is the due date for updating an existing registration?
Registrations must be updated at five-year intervals from the initial registration. Registration updates are due by April 1 of the 5th year following the initial registration for the previous calendar year. (Example: An update for a registration last updated in 2003 would be due by April 1, 2009 based on data for calendar year 2008.)

Once registered, what is the due date for submitting annual water use reports?
Water use must be reported every year by April 1 for the previous calendar year.

Is there a fee to register?
For non-agricultural users registering for the first time there is a $50.00 fee. Agricultural water users are exempt from paying this fee. Previously registered water users updating their registrations are also exempt from this fee.

Is there a penalty for not registering a withdrawal?
Any person who is required to register a water withdrawal or surface water transfer under section G.S. 143-215.3(a)(1a) and G.S. 143-215.3(a)(1b) and fails to do so will be subject to a civil penalty of one hundred dollars ($100.00) per day.

Is there a penalty for failing to update a registration?
A person who is required to update a registration and fails to do so will be subject to a civil penalty of fifty dollars ($50.00) per day.

Who do I make checks payable to?
All checks are payable to: NCDENR-Division of Water Resources. Checks can be mailed to: Water Withdrawal Registration, NC Division of Water Resources, 1611 Mail Service Center, Raleigh, NC 27699- 1611.

I'm not sure if I'm registered, how can I find that information?
If you have previously registered with the Division of Water Resources, your facility's registration information can be found using the Search option on the Water Withdrawal Registration webpage. If you are unable to locate your facility using the Search option, contact the Division of Water Resources at (919)733-4064 for further assistance.

Why is it important that I register my withdrawals?

  • Water supply planning and management require an understanding of both the available water resources and the demands being placed on those resources. Registration information is used to develop a more complete understanding of total water use and availability in North Carolina. Data on registered water withdrawals provides vital information for the River Basin Water Supply Planning Program.
  • By registering water withdrawals and updating them every five years, water users establish a record of their water needs that can be taken into consideration in future resource management planning and decision making.