AB95 passes legislature -- domestic wells may be metered

by Leanna Lehman -- The Nevada legislature must be drinking whiskey lately, because they’ve been fighting plenty over water. As the old Mark Twain adage goes – in the west, whiskey is for drinking and water is for fighting. With the passage of AB95 on May 23rd, many Nevada residents are fuming over the future of metered domestic water wells in Nevada. While well metering won’t be required when the legislation goes into effect in July, passage allows for water to be measured should the State Engineer determine that water restriction is necessary. Nevada wells owners are looking at a 75% reduction of water withdrawals in “certain situations a decrease of outflow from 2.0 acre-feet (651,700 gallons) to 0.5-acre-feet per year. Well meters will be installed at the owner’s expense,” according to language in the bill. Domestic wells in Nevada don’t just provide water for household use, but also for outdoor use. Most gardens, trees, and livestock are served by water wells. Some opponents of AB95 are so aggrieved by the new legislation that they are calling for the Governor to veto the bill. Longtime Nevada resident Peggy Reed expressed frustration about the Bill, “Well metering is expensive, stated Reed. “Say goodbye to your animals, trees, and gardens.” The restriction to 0.5-acre-feet doesn’t take into consideration family size, property acreage, or account for domestic animals and livestock tanks that are fed by wells. Several farms, feedlots, and small fruit and vegetable producers will be adversely affected, with little or no recourse. If Nevada follows in California’s footsteps, residents with wells could find themselves paying the state for their own underground water. Several other water bills were proposed for the 2019 80th legislative session. Two bills, AB30 and AB51, failed to pass due to unmet deadlines. AB30, even as amended, left many Nevadans, including Tribes, Environmental agencies, mining companies, farmers, and ranchers in fear of future pipeline projects. Many parties against the Bill viewed it as paving the way to a Southern Nevada water grab. Doug Busselman, Nevada Farm Bureau executive, thanked Senator Goicoechea from Eureka for his comments in opposition of AB30. Busselman also expressed appreciation for the 1600+ Farm Bureau members in a recent statement, “Nevada water rights are better protected today because existing law has not been changed,” said Busselman. “We still have our work cut out for us in maintaining existing water rights, but thanks to Farm Bureau members and the policy they've put in place, we going to keep doing what we do.”     Never miss a meeting or community event – keep an eye on the community calendar at https://www.thefallonpost.org/events/ If you like what we’re doing, please support our effort to provide local, independent news and contribute to The Fallon Post, your online news source for all things Fallon.