FAQs

Per K.S.A. 82a-1030, the District board is authorized to assess each eligible parcel within District boundaries either a land assessment (not to exceed $0.05/acre) or a water assessment (not to exceed $2.00/acre-foot). This is the primary funding source for District operations annually. If a parcel is less than 40 acres in size, they are exempt from the land assessment unless the parcel has a water right associated with that parcel in which case both the land and water assessment are applied. If the water user does not utilize the entire water right, they may file a verified claim with the District prior to April 1st of each year certifying the actual amount of water used. 

Anyone that withdrawals water, other than for domestic use, is required to have a permit.

The Kansas Water Appropriation Act protects people's rights to use water and also protects the state's supply of groundwater and surface water for future use. Good water conservation should be practiced by all water users.

According to K.S.A. 82a-1021, to be an eligible voter, you must be at least 18 years old and own at least 40 acres of land inside the GMD that is not excluded from district assessment or use at least 1 acre-foot of water inside the GMD annually. 

District voting is done in-person and proxy voting is not allowed. Certificates of incumbency can be filed for special representation and must be filed in advance of the annual meeting. 

The District board is comprised of nine members. Eight of the board members represent each of the counties comprising the District region plus one At-Large member. 

Board members are elected to three-year terms every year at the annual meeting in February. Eligible voters desiring to become a board member will need to file a nominating petition with the District office or be nominated from the floor at the annual meeting. 

A completed application form must be submitted at least 60 days prior to planned construction.

The District requires that we receive at least 72 hours notice prior to beginning construction.

The surface casing material must be non-metallic and must be approved for water well use.

The District requires the surface casing to have a standard dimension ration (SDR) of at least 21. The SDR is calculated by dividing the casing ourside diameter (OD) by its minimum wall thickness (MWT). A common problem found on many applications is providing a general casing OD instead of the actual OD. This error may provide an SDR that is not acceptable by the District.

The surface casing must be set at least 20 feet into shale or impermeable bedrock.

The Kansas Geological Survey (KGS) maintains a number of very useful web pages devoted to the water resources of Kansas, such as WIZARD, and WWC5, that can provide depths to water and bedrock. Also available are county bulletins that provide detailed descriptions of the hydrogeology of the District.

Yes. A District representative is required to be present to ensure that approved materials are used during construction, and to ensure that boreholes are set into an approved geologic formation.

No, not without a specific waiver. The Big Bend, High Plains Aquifer is a valuable resource to all the people within the District. Use of non-approved materials may jeopardize the integrity of the aquifer.

If an excavated drilling pit is to be used in the place of an above ground or portable pit, an application for surface pit needs to be supplied with the proper application form.

Yes. The District requires:

• A construction plan that illustrates the information contained in Form CP-10 or CP-15.
• A plat map describing the area in which the work will be completed (Form CP-20).
• Copies of all applicable forms from KCC (KSONA-1, AC-01, CDP-1) and KDHE (WWC5).
• The District also requires the submission of the GMD #5 Well Completion (As Built) Plan, and associated paperwork outlined in this plan, upon completion of the cathodic borehole.