Frequently Asked Questions

What is a major water user?
Any surface or groundwater user that withdraws or has the capacity to withdraw or divert 70 gallons or more per minute from any water source. (RSMo Chapter 256.400)

Are there any fees?
No fee is charged.

How often is registration required?
Water use data is required by law to be submitted annually.

When is the annual reporting form due each year?
Water use data is due within three months after we send out reminders by U.S. Mail.

What will happen if I do not submit my water use data?
There are no penalties if you do not report water use data.

Why does the state collect this data?
Water use data is vital for ensuring future water use needs are met. In order to determine whether existing water resources will be adequate to meet water use demands of Missouri citizens, we must know how much water is being withdrawn.

Do other state’s have similar requirements for water use registration?
Yes, most states have either a water use registration such as Missouri, or they have water rights/water allocations program. Some states regulate the amount of water that can be withdrawn and some states do not.

How do I register as a major water user?
You can submit a form online here or download and print forms here. If you would like assistance or have any questions, please feel free to call us at 573-368-2175. Forms can be mailed to:

Missouri Water Resources Center
P.O. Box 250
Rolla, MO 65402-0250

What is the well certification number asked for on the groundwater forms?
This is a number assigned to a well by the Wellhead Protection Section of the Department of Natural Resources. Only wells drilled after November 1, 1987 will have this number, since that is when the rules governing well certification went into effect. If your well was drilled prior to 1987, you may leave this field blank.

What is the identifier number?
The identifier number is a number that is assigned by the Water Resources Center. The first three digits are the county FIPS code. The middle three digits indicate whether it is surface water, groundwater or both. The last three digits are the sequence number.

Who fills out the forms if a water source is used by someone other than the owner?
It is always the water user, not the property owner, who is responsible for filling out the forms.

Why is my well no longer producing enough water?
Older wells sometimes become inadequate for any of several reasons. The production of many wells decline over the years because of mineral encrustation in the well bore or on the well screen. Water levels have declined in some areas of the state due to high groundwater production rates. Groundwater levels in shallow aquifers also decline during drought conditions. A well may also become inadequate simply because water use has increased over the years to the point that the yield of the well is not adequate to meet current demands.

How much surface water or groundwater can I take?
There are no state laws, regulations or policies that specify the quantity of water that any diverter may use. Missouri is a riparian water law state, and all landowners touching or lying above water sources have a right to a reasonable use of those water resources. Recent case law has established the reasonable use criteria that the State Supreme Court has been following. Reasonable use requires that other users and landowners not be overly adversely impacted. In 2000, the Department of Natural Resources published "A Summary of Missouri Water Laws", WR-51, which gives more information. To purchase a copy, call 573-368- 2175.