OCR Text |
Show 688 GROUND WATER RIGHTS IN SELECTED STATES the well is also required and must be made within 30 days of completion.130 Failure to comply with these provisions, or willful and deliberate falsification of the required reports, shall be a misdemeanor.131 The Department of Water Resources is directed to investigate and survey conditions of damage to ground waters caused by improperly constructed, abandoned, or defective wells.132 After making such investigations, if the De- partment determines that standards for the construction, maintenance, aban- donment, and destruction of water wells and cathodic protection wells are necessary in an area in order to protect the quality of ground water for bene- ficial use, the Department shall so report to the appropriate regional water quality control board and the State Department of Public Health. The report of the Department of Water Resources shall recommend such standards for construction, maintenance, destruction, and abandonment of such wells as are necessary to protect the quality of the affected water.133 The regional board shall hold public hearings on the need to establish such well standards and it may do so without a report from the Department, if it has information that such standards are needed.134 If the regional board finds that such standards are needed, it shall define the area and notify the cities and counties af- fected.135 The affected cities and counties are directed to adopt an ordinance establishing the necessary well standards within specified times.136 If any city or county fails to adopt or modify such well standards within specified periods in the manner determined necessary by the regional board, the board may adopt such standards for the city or county.137 The statutes provide for review by the State Water Resources Control Board of any act or failure to act by any regional board, city, or county.138 Water Replenishment District Act This act139. authorizes formation of water replenishment districts to re- plenish ground water in such districts by several methods including buying, or property due to the loss of an existing water supply, the notice of intent must be filed no later than 5 days after the construction, alteration, destruction, or abandonment. Id. i30Id. § 13751. Any person who converts an oil or gas well (originally constructed under the jurisdiction of the Department of Conservation) to a water well or cathodic protection well must also comply with these provisions. Id. § 13753. 131 Id. § 13754. 132 Id. § 231. 133Id. § 13800. 134 Id. § 13801. 135Id. § 13802. 136Id. § 13803. 137Id. § 13805. l3*Id. § 13806. 139Cal. Water Code § 60001 et seq. (West 1956). |