2015 North Dakota Century Code Title 61 Waters Chapter 61-20 Artesian Wells
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CHAPTER 61-20
ARTESIAN WELLS
61-20-01. Valve or valves required on artesian well - Flow permitted from artesian
wells - Preventing flow.
Every person, stock company, association, corporation, or limited liability company owning
or controlling the real estate upon which is located an artesian or flowing well shall provide for
each such well a valve or valves capable of controlling the discharge from such well and shall
keep such valve or valves so adjusted that only such supply of water shall escape as is
necessary for ordinary use by the owner, or the person in control, of such land, in conducting
the owner's or person's business. In the winter, such flow may be permitted as will prevent
freezing of the well, and when it is necessary, a sufficient flow may be allowed for the purposes
of developing the well. The owner of an artesian well shall be required, by means of the
construction of a reservoir or otherwise, to prevent the flow of the owner's well from running
upon land belonging to another or from running into any ditch along any public highway except a
regularly established drainage ditch.
61-20-02. Drilling artesian or flowing well - Requirements.
Every person, stock company, association, corporation, or limited liability company that shall
drill an artesian or flowing well shall comply with the rules of the state engineer regarding such
activity.
61-20-03. Wild wells.
The provisions of this chapter shall apply to a wild well, or a well out of control, except that if
it is determined by the state engineer that such well cannot be repaired for use, no valve shall
be attached, but every effort shall be made by the owner to seal, plug, or cut off the same. Old
wells which might be damaged by so doing need not be shut off, but such wells shall be put in
repair at the earliest possible date and shall be regulated thereafter.
61-20-04. Artesian or flowing wells - Penalty for certain actions.
The owner or person in control of an artesian or flowing well, who:
1. Allows it to flow without a valve or other device for checking the flow as required by
law, or without proper repair of pipes and valves;
2. Interferes with the well, valve, or other device;
3. Permits the water to waste unnecessarily; or
4. Permits the water to run upon the lands of another or into the ditches along any public
road except a regularly established drainage ditch,
shall be guilty of a class B misdemeanor. The provisions of this section shall also apply to the
officer or members of a board in charge of wells belonging to the state, or any county, township,
or municipality.
61-20-05. Township and county assessors shall list all artesian and flowing wells
annually - Forwarding data to state water commission.
Repealed by S.L. 1983, ch. 598, § 25.
61-20-06. Duties of state engineer
. The state engineer shall advise the citizens of the state as to the practicability of measures
affecting the underground waters of this state. The state engineer shall:
1. Counsel and consult with the owner and assist the owner to work out the most
desirable control and use of the owner's well.
2. Select at least three representative flowing wells in each county having that number,
and as many more as it may deem advisable.
3. Cause the record of their flows and pressures to be taken, from time to time, to learn
as much as possible of the decline, fluctuations, and permanence of the artesian
supply.
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4.
Plan and conduct such other investigations as it may find advisable to ascertain the
best method of prolonging the utility of the same.
5. Keep a record of the location, size, depth, flow, size of flow, character of water,
construction, and history of all artesian wells of the state, and keep it on file for public
reference.
6. Secure the enforcement of all laws pertaining to artesian and phreatic waters of the
state.
7. Publish from time to time, as it may deem advantageous, bulletins containing
information concerning the artesian wells and phreatic waters of the state.
The state engineer may make such additional reasonable rules and regulations governing such
wells as it shall determine.
61-20-07. Enforcement of chapter by state engineer - Appeal.
The provisions of this chapter must be enforced by the state engineer. The state engineer
may issue administrative orders requiring compliance with this chapter. An appeal from the
engineer's ruling may be taken under the provisions of chapter 28-32.
61-20-08. Deputy - Appointment by state geologist - Removal - Salary.
Repealed by S.L. 1965, ch. 447, § 24.
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