HF79

This bill, presented in the Minnesota state legislature, proposes changes to the existing laws governing how water is allocated for different uses in the state. Specifically, it revises the priorities for who gets to use water and in what order during times when water is scarce. Here’s a breakdown of the key points:

1. Prioritization of Water Use: The bill sets out a hierarchy for water use:

   • The highest priority is given to water used for domestic needs (excluding industrial and commercial uses from municipal supply), hospitals and nursing homes, schools, child care facilities, colleges, universities, and certain power production linked to contingency planning.
   • The second priority is for uses consuming less than 10,000 gallons of water per day.
   • The third priority is for agricultural irrigation and processing that use more than 10,000 gallons per day.
   • Subsequent priorities are given to other forms of power production, followed by other high-volume uses, and lastly nonessential uses.

2. Definitions and Encouragements:

   • The bill defines 'consumption' as water drawn from a source that is then lost and not immediately reusable locally.
   • It encourages the use of stream surface water during floods or high water levels while considering the purpose, quantity, and demand.
   • The use of water from smaller lakes (less than 500 acres) is generally discouraged.
   • It promotes the treatment and reuse of water for non-consuming purposes.

This bill aims to enhance water management and ensure critical needs are met first in times of water scarcity or during everyday use. It is now under consideration by the Committee on Environment and Natural Resources Finance and Policy.