California Targets Private Property With Latest Water Well Fees, Charges: Report

California is siccing its Environmental Protection Agency on property owners who have private water wells on their land and making them pay based on how much water volume they use, according to a new report.

California Globe reported Wednesday that an anonymous tipster produced a letter signed by Natalie Stork, identified as chief of groundwater management program unit 1. The letter advised the San Diego-area resident that they would have to report the volume of well water they used and pay a fee per acre foot of groundwater extracted starting in February 2023.

The letter was on the official letterhead of California Water Boards and was sent under the authority of Governor Gavin Newsom (D-CA) and Secretary for Environmental Protection Jared Blumenfeld.

“They’re sending out letters to property owners saying they must declare [if] they use just two acre feet,” the source told The California Globe. “If they use more, they must pay an annual fee of $300 for each well plus they must meter the water and send in a monthly usage report and pay a fee for water that is pumped starting in Feb 2023.”

“What a great racket!” the California resident added. “The government provides no service, no support, no product, doesn’t even do the billing! That’s all on citizens. All [the government does] is cash the check.”- READ MORE