(a) The following diversions are exempt from the provisions of sections 22a-365 to 22a-378a, inclusive: (1) One or more wells joined in one system whose combined maximum withdrawal will not exceed fifty thousand gallons of water during any twenty-four-hour period; (2) the maximum withdrawal of fifty thousand gallons of surface water during any twenty-four-hour period; (3) discharges permitted under the provisions of section 22a-430; (4) a storm drainage system which collects the surface water runoff of an area of less than one hundred acres; (5) water for fire emergency purposes; (6) diversions within, extensions and relocation of water supply system distribution mains; (7) roadway crossings or culverts which allow for continuous flow or passage of an existing watercourse; (8) diversions directly related to routine maintenance and emergency repairs of dams; and (9) diversions by a water company, as defined in section 25-32a, that are necessary to protect the security of public water supplies, including: (A) A diversion from a back-up well where a primary well is out of service, provided (i) the back-up well is located within two hundred fifty feet of such primary well, (ii) the total quantity of water withdrawn does not result in an increase in the rate or quantity of a diversion registered or permitted by the commissioner pursuant to section 22a-368 or 22a-378a, and (iii) not later than January thirtieth of each year, the commissioner is supplied a written annual report, for the prior year, that identifies the location of each back-up well, the construction type of each back-up well, the date of installation and the daily water use from each primary well and each back-up well for those days on which the back-up well operated; or (B) a transfer of water from one distribution system to another during a water supply emergency declared pursuant to section 22a-378 or 25-32b or otherwise declared according to law, provided the transfer (i) is limited to the period during which the emergency exists, (ii) does not result in an increase in the rate or quantity of a diversion registered or permitted by the commissioner pursuant to section 22a-368 or 22a-378a, (iii) is accomplished through existing, authorized, installed capacity to transfer or through temporary equipment that is removed within thirty days after the last day of the water supply emergency, and (iv) the commissioner is notified, in writing, of any such transfer and its location within three days of the transfer and the commissioner is provided a written report of the daily transfer of water that occurred during the emergency and any other related information the commissioner may request.
(b) The commissioner may, by regulations adopted in accordance with the provisions of chapter 54, define and establish additional exempt categories or classes of diversions which would not by themselves or in combination with each other have a substantial effect on the long-range planning for and allocation of the water resources of the state.
(c) The commissioner shall adopt regulations in accordance with the provisions of chapter 54 establishing the database, criteria and policies to be used by the commissioner to insure the proper planning, management, allocation and use of the water resources of the state and to fulfill the provisions of sections 22a-365 to 22a-378, inclusive.
(P.A. 82-402, S. 13, 16; P.A. 85-243, S. 2; P.A. 03-141, S. 1.)
History: P.A. 85-243 amended Subsec. (a) by adding an exemption for diversions related to routine maintenance and emergency repairs of dams; P.A. 03-141 amended Subsec. (a) to change reference from Sec. 22a-378 to Sec. 22a-378a and to add Subdiv. (9) re diversions necessary to protect the security of public water supplies, effective July 1, 2003.
Cited. 28 CA 674.
Structure Connecticut General Statutes
Title 22a - Environmental Protection
Chapter 446i - Water Resources. Invasive Plants
Section 22a-337. (Formerly Sec. 25-3). - Commissioner's powers.
Section 22a-339a. - Grants to improve water quality of lakes used for public recreation.
Section 22a-339b. - Criteria for grants. Public benefit.
Section 22a-339c. - Grant conditions.
Section 22a-339d. - Regulations.
Section 22a-339e. - Municipal assessment for costs of lake management implementation measures.
Section 22a-339f. - Pilot program for lake preservation.
Section 22a-339g. - Control of nonnative invasive plant species.
Section 22a-339h. - Lake Beseck. Water level draw downs.
Section 22a-339j. - Water level draw downs at Bashan Lake.
Section 22a-340. (Formerly Sec. 25-3d). - Channels for access to and from deep water to uplands.
Section 22a-341. (Formerly Sec. 25-4). - Approval of agreements or compacts.
Section 22a-342a. - Civil penalty.
Section 22a-343. (Formerly Sec. 25-4b). - Determination of lines.
Section 22a-346. (Formerly Sec. 25-4e.) - Encroachment as nuisance.
Section 22a-347. (Formerly Sec. 25-4f). - Regulations and procedures.
Section 22a-348. (Formerly Sec. 25-4g). - Municipal powers.
Section 22a-349a. - General permits for minor activities. Regulations.
Section 22a-349c. - Quarries. Geological source report. Operations plan.
Section 22a-350. (Formerly Sec. 25-5). - Study of conditions relating to flood control.
Section 22a-352a. - Conflict between the state water plan and the general statutes.
Section 22a-354. (Formerly Sec. 25-5d). - Appropriation of bond proceeds.
Section 22a-354a. - “Existing well fields” and “potential well fields”, defined.
Section 22a-354aa. - Strategic groundwater monitoring program in aquifer protection areas.
Section 22a-354b. - Standards for modeling and mapping of locations of aquifers.
Section 22a-354bb. - Inventory of agricultural land uses overlying mapped well fields.
Section 22a-354c. - Mapping of well fields by water companies.
Section 22a-354d. - Completion of mapping of well fields.
Section 22a-354e. - Inventory of land uses overlying aquifers.
Section 22a-354f. - Guidelines for inventory.
Section 22a-354h. - Definitions.
Section 22a-354i. - Regulations.
Section 22a-354k. - Groundwater education program.
Section 22a-354l. - Model municipal aquifer protection ordinance.
Section 22a-354m. - Farm resources management plans. Regulations.
Section 22a-354s. - Penalty. Court orders.
Section 22a-354t. - Revocation of municipal authority to regulate aquifer protection areas.
Section 22a-354w. - Guidelines for acquisition of lands surrounding public water supply well fields.
Section 22a-354y. - Preparation of municipal assistance program by water companies.
Section 22a-355. (Formerly Sec. 25-5e). - Land sales by water companies. Commissioner's duties.
Section 22a-356. (Formerly Sec. 25-5f). - Cost estimates re groundwater recharge and discharge.
Section 22a-357. (Formerly Sec. 25-6). - Special reports.
Section 22a-358. (Formerly Sec. 25-7a). - Sale of water by public water systems.
Section 22a-360. (Formerly Sec. 25-7c). - Establishment of boundaries.
Section 22a-361a. - Civil penalty.
Section 22a-362. (Formerly Sec. 25-7e). - Violations as public nuisance.
Section 22a-363. (Formerly Sec. 25-7f). - Penalty for violation.
Section 22a-363a. - Definitions.
Section 22a-363c. - Application fee.
Section 22a-363d. - Emergency authorization. Expiration.
Section 22a-363e. - Failure to comply with order. Littoral owner as responsible party.
Section 22a-363f. - Cease and desist orders. Hearing. Decision.
Section 22a-363g. - Filing of permit, certificate or authorization on municipal land records.
Section 22a-364. (Formerly Sec. 25-8). - Stream gauging stations.
Section 22a-365. - Short title: Connecticut Water Diversion Policy Act.
Section 22a-366. - Legislative findings.
Section 22a-367. - Definitions.
Section 22a-368. - Registration of existing diversions. Permits. Transfer.
Section 22a-368a. - Reporting of current operating data.
Section 22a-369. - Application for permit. Information required.
Section 22a-370. - Notice to town re application.
Section 22a-375. - Investigation, suspension or revocation of permits. Inventory of diversions.
Section 22a-376. - Injunctions. Forfeiture. Penalties.
Section 22a-377. - Exemptions. Regulations.
Section 22a-378. - Water supply emergency. Violation of water supply emergency order.
Section 22a-378a. - General permits for minor activities. Regulations.
Section 22a-379. - Diversion permit. Fee.
Section 22a-380. - Water resources policy.
Section 22a-381. - Invasive Plants Council: Membership; meetings.
Section 22a-381a. - Duties and recommendations of the Invasive Plants Council.