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Show 58 (GROUND WATER uniformity among the appropriation States and even less among the riparian jurisdictions. The general administrative structure discussed in chapter 2 of this part I ordinarily governs administration of ground water rights, and the specific regulations and procedures of any particular State will be found in the individual digest for that State. It should be remembered that appropriation States which regulate ground water apply the same principles to both surface and under- ground sources of supply, including forfeiture and abandonment, requirements of due diligence, etc. Also, the same procedures are fol- lowed (e.g., change applications, statutory adjudications, etc.). Most States, both East and West, protect ground water supplies by re- quiring that artesian wells be capped to prevent waste and by pro- hibiting pollution of aquifers. (3) REGULATION OF WELL DRILLERS Most States require well drillers to be licensed, and to file logs on all wells drilled with an officer or agency of the State (e.g., the State geologist, State engineer, or State water board). Well drillers are often required to file notice before drilling a well, and they •frequently are required to obtain permits prior to drilling. State regulatory control over well drillers must be distinguished from State control over use of underground water, because many States that do not regulate ground water use do regulate well drillers. b. Some Difficult Problems in Ground Water Administration (1) PRESSURES AND WATER LEVELS IN UNDERGROUND RESERVOIRS In the early stages of development of a ground water reservoir, the hydrological characteristics of the reservoir usually are not suf- ficiently well-known to permit informed decisions to be made as to how much water may be withdrawn or at what rate it may be with- drawn in order to realize optimal management and administration of the basin. Over a period of time, as the basin is developed and as 'data is accumulated, these facts generally can be ascertained, but some testing and trial period is essential. Some of the legal problems concerned with artesian pressures and the maintenance of elevations or pump lifts have already been noted. 'But these same problems must also be illustrated in an administra- tive and economic context. It is clear that if a ground water basin is to be developed and the waters therein utilized reasonably and efficiently, then some important decisions must be made. The first determination, which is essentially hydrologic, is the manner and amount of annual recharge to the underground basin. If the water withdrawn from the basin does not exceed the average annual re- 'charge, or the safe annual yield, then the ground water basin will contain approximately the same amount of water each year and will fluctuate at approximately the same water levels, or will maintain approximately the same degree of artesian pressure, as if no with- drawals were made. However, further development of the basin will proceed, because there is no administrative, practical or economic |
