1. Except as otherwise provided in subsection 2 and as to the furnishing of any information required by the State Engineer, this chapter does not apply in the matter of obtaining permits for the development and use of underground water from a well for domestic purposes where the draught does not exceed 2 acre-feet per year.

2. The State Engineer may designate any groundwater basin or portion thereof as a basin in which the registration of a well is required if the well is drilled for the development and use of underground water for domestic purposes. A driller who drills such a well shall register the information required by the State Engineer within 10 days after the completion of the well. The State Engineer shall make available forms for the registration of such wells and shall maintain a register of those wells.

3. The State Engineer may require the plugging of such a well which is drilled on or after July 1, 1981, at any time not sooner than 1 year after water can be furnished to the site by:

(a) A political subdivision of this State; or

(b) A public utility whose rates and service are regulated by the Public Utilities Commission of Nevada,

but only if the charge for making the connection to the service is less than $200.

4. If the development and use of underground water from a well for an accessory dwelling unit of a single-family dwelling, as defined in an applicable local ordinance, qualifies as a domestic use or domestic purpose:

(a) The owner of the well shall:

(1) Obtain approval for that use or purpose from the local governing body or planning commission in whose jurisdiction the well is located;

(2) Install a water meter capable of measuring the total withdrawal of water from the well; and

(3) Ensure the total withdrawal of water from the well does not exceed 2 acre-feet per year;

(b) The local governing body or planning commission shall report the approval of the accessory dwelling unit on a form provided by the State Engineer;

(c) The State Engineer shall monitor the annual withdrawal of water from the well; and

(d) The date of priority for the use of the domestic well to supply water to the accessory dwelling unit is the date of approval of the accessory dwelling unit by the local governing body or planning commission.

[3:178:1939; A 1947, 52; 1949, 128; 1955, 328] — (NRS A 1971, 868; 1977, 383; 1981, 1843; 1983, 2090; 1985, 1302; 1997, 2010; 2007, 846)