North Kings GSA preparing for Dry Well Relief Program launch in mid-October
The North Kings GSA is preparing to launch a Dry Well Relief Program in mid-October to support domestic well owners who lose water access if their well goes dry due to declining groundwater levels.
Eligible households who live within the Kings Subbasin will be provided with temporary water relief services, such as bottled water delivery and a hauled water tank, while the program team works to identify and execute a long-term water supply solution. The program provides well owners with financial assistance through a combination of grants and zero interest loans to implement a long-term solution like deepening the well or drilling a new one.
The Dry Well Relief Program is the implementation of the Domestic Well Mitigation Plan. Getting the Plan in place and the program off the ground is one of the corrective actions required by the California Department of Water Resources (DWR) as part of their GSP approval determination, which mandates mitigation efforts be in place before the GSPs are resubmitted in January 2025.
As a unified initiative, the Kings Subbasin designed the Domestic Well Mitigation Plan Rules and Regulations with a consistent framework across all seven GSAs. However, the Plan’s process will vary by GSA based on their area’s unique needs.
Four of the seven Kings Subbasin GSAs, including North Kings, are administering their Plans together with one application process under the Dry Well Relief Program. The other three GSAs will have their own unique process for administering the Plan.
The upcoming launch of the Dry Well Relief Program comes after the completion of the draft Rules and Regulations in April, which were later adopted by each GSA’s Board of Directors. This adoption was the first step to launching the program into existence, outlining the eligibility criteria, process, and cost-sharing structure for those seeking support.
Additional information will be made available as the Dry Well Relief Program begins to rollout. To stay informed on the program, sign up for the North Kings GSA’s email list at northkingsgsa.org/email.
