Large Groundwater Withdrawal Permitting

National Agricultural Grower

Client Challenge

A national agricultural grower retained Aries for our expertise with Large Groundwater Withdrawal permitting projects. The Client has two existing irrigation wells that supply water to their existing New Hampshire greenhouse facility. They requested assistance with permitting as part of a planned greenhouse expansion that would increase the facility size and water use by a factor of 5 times. Because of this proposed expansion, the anticipated irrigation water production rates would exceed the New Hampshire Department of Environmental Services’ (NHDES’) Large Groundwater Withdrawal threshold of 57,600 gallons per day (GPD), therefore requiring a Large Groundwater Withdrawal Permit.

Comprehensive Solution

To obtain a Large Groundwater Withdrawal Permit, Aries’ permitting assistance and project support services included:

• Providing project management and support, including participation in Client planning meetings and project discussions, meeting with State officials, and estimation of a suitable and sustainable pumping rate;

• Preparation and submittal of a Preliminary Well Siting Report and Testing Proposal for NHDES approval, which included a preliminary estimate of the maximum extent of the proposed withdrawal’s zone of influence.

• Coordination and implementation of a 7-day pumping test at the design pumping rate to demonstrate no adverse impacts to nearby water resources; and

• Completion of a Final Report that confirmed the sustainability of the design pumping rate.

Because of the agricultural nature of the proposed irrigation water use, Aries was able to assist our Client obtain an agricultural exemption from several standard, but costly design requirement for managing irrigation water discharges at the proposed facility.

Beneficial Outcome

Permits were approved and received ahead of the projected completion time and within the approved project budget, enabling our Client to continue confidently with their five-fold expansion. The Large Groundwater Withdrawal permitting success delivered multiple advantages:

• Timely permit approval eliminated potential construction delays and cost overruns.

• Fully compliant permitting ensures long-term, sustainable water supply security for the expanded greenhouse operations with no identified adverse impacts to nearby water resources.

• Proper permitting process creates value beyond immediate project needs, is a cost-effective approach to regulatory compliance, and avoids costly permit modifications and delays.

With regulatory requirements met, our Client moved forward with their greenhouse expansion plans.