WATER: Adjudication warning

If you have a groundwater well in Kootenai County, you’re likely aware of the water rights adjudication process that has been underway for several years now. Like most new rules and regulations, the proclaimed intent behind this process sounds righteous, however the way the water rights are being determined is far from fair and will leave the door wide open to a very authoritarian interpretation of your water rights.

If you own a home with acreage, this adjudication does not give you any additional consideration than a home sitting on a postage stamp in town. People invest a lot of money in their home, property and drilling a well to create the life they wish to live. I’ve drilled multiple wells and have incurred the costs of going deeper to get better flow rates. My water usage was not limited when I purchased my property, and that was a big factor in my decision making.

What you need to know; the water right for a typical single-family home is only 0.020 cfs, or 8.97 gpm. Virtually every residential well pump is rated at 10 gpm. Soon, every time your well pump turns on, you will be exceeding your water rights. How long does it take before a liberal judge interprets your rights in a way that disallows the continued use of your 10 gpm pump? Why isn’t there any consideration for acreage, or multiple wells, in addition to the number of dwellings on a property? It’s Time to Speak Up!

KEVIN SHANLEY

Hauser