Preparing for Flow Meter Reporting Deadline

We received a phone call this morning from a Delta grower requesting assistance with his flow meter readings.  Before the weather turns wet and cold, he had decided to collect the data from his well’s flow meters for reporting by the February deadline. Quite to his surprise, his supplier had installed flow meters with three different recording methods. One meter records in gallons per minute multiplied by 100, One meter records in gallon per minute multiplied by 1000, and one meter records in acre feet multiplied by .001 .     To illustrate this we have included photos of his meters. (Clink image to enlarge).

First of all, don’t be alarmed! Prior to the February 1, 2015 reporting date, MDEQ will send each participate a survey for completion. Listed are the items you will be required to report. Please have these items ready prior to the survey date.

1) The brand name and serial number.

2) The units the meter is reading or recording.

3) The start date reading.

4) The end date reading.

5) The crops (including fish or wildlife usage)

6) Total acreage the meter was recording

7) Answer whether you used ground water, surface water or both on the reported acreage.

The survey must be returned to MDEQ either by mail, fax, or the information can be submitted online through the MDEQ water use portal. Remember both the 5% meter requirement and the reporting of pumpage must be met or the voluntary program automatically becomes mandatory.

If for some reason you do not receive a survey prior to the February deadline, please call Dillard Melton at YMD at 662-686-7712.