Rates for annual report of water use
Volume Appropriated | Fee for each permit |
|---|---|
0 to 50 million gallons | $140 minimum fee |
50 to 100 million gallons | $3.50 for each million |
100 to 150 million gallons | $4.00 for each million |
150 to 200 million gallons | $4.50 for each million |
200 to 250 million gallons | $5.00 for each million |
250 to 300 million gallons | $5.50 for each million |
300 to 350 million gallons | $6.00 for each million |
350 to 400 million gallons | $6.50 for each million |
400 to 450 million gallons | $7.00 for each million |
450 to 500 million gallons | $7.50 for each million |
Above 500 million gallons | $8.00 for each million |
Minimum annual water use fee for agricultural irrigation
Agricultural irrigation permittees that did not appropriate any water during the year or had their permit suspended for more than seven days pay a minimum fee of $20 per permit.
Maximum annual water use fees
$750 for any single agricultural irrigation permit
$60,000 total for an entity with 3 or less permits
$90,000 total for an entity with 4 to 5 permits
$300,000 total for an entity with more than 5 permits
$250,000 total for a city of the first class
$10,000 for a municipality that furnishes electric service and cogenerates steam for home heating.
Once-through heating and cooling systems only
A separate annual water use fee schedule exists for once-through heating and cooling (HVAC) systems. Non-profit corporations and school districts pay $200 per million gallons and all other entities with once-through heating and cooling systems pay $420 per million gallons. There is no maximum fee for once-through systems.
Summer surcharge
Due to a change in law water use in July, August, and September of 2023 that exceeds the volume of water used in January 2023 will be subject to the new summer water use fee of $50 per million gallons of water used. Water appropriated in June 2023 that exceeds the volume of water used in January 2023 will be subject to the previous summer water use fee of $30 per million gallons.
A surcharge of $50 per million gallons will be applied to the volume of water used in each of the months of May June, July, August and September that exceeds the volume of water used in January of each year beginning in calendar year 2024.
The summer surcharge applies to municipal water use, irrigation of golf courses and landscape irrigation. This is a surcharge in addition to the regular fee rate based on the yearly total volume used.
Please visit the DNR water use permits webpage for more information on the change in water use fees.
Processing fee exemptions
State and federal agencies are exempt from annual water use fees.