GROUNDWATER MANAGEMENT IN THE LIVE FREE AND DIE STATE

The State motto for New Hampshire is “Live Free or Die.” Despite its motto, nobody in New Hampshire may develop a new groundwater withdrawal that exceeds 57,600 gallons a day without initiating a public participation process and completing extensive and sometimes costly testing. New Hampshire also receives approximately 44 inches of rain a year, and has more than 1300 lakes, ponds and reservoirs which cover approximately 280 square miles of the State. Yet, even in New Hampshire, the management of water resources to protect competing water users, the environment and future water needs of the state is one of the most hotly debated topics in the State.

Proposed large groundwater withdrawals from stratified drift aquifers with limited extents and crystalline bedrock aquifers in close proximity to private residential wells, community water supplies, sensitive wetlands resources and stressed rivers have required that the State to develop laws, regulations, and procedures for detailed impact assessments. State laws and regulations have developed a process whereby any entity developing a new large groundwater withdrawal must identify all potential water users and resources that may be adversely impacted by a large groundwater withdrawal and complete extensive testing to assess the potential for adverse impacts to occur.

This talk will describe New Hampshire's past, present, and possibly future approach to managing groundwater withdrawals and water resources.