HF 2687 (LSB 5169HV (1) 91)

HOUSE FILE 2687

BY  COMMITTEE ON NATURAL RESOURCES

(SUCCESSOR TO HF 2117)

A BILL FOR

An Act relating to groundwater monitoring in the state, including the establishment of a pilot program, and including effective date provisions.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF IOWA:

    Section 1.  LEGISLATIVE FINDINGS.
   1.  Iowa’s groundwater resources are essential for drinking water, agriculture, and economic vitality.
   2.  The Iowa geological survey currently monitors groundwater levels in approximately sixty wells statewide, which is insufficient to represent the diversity of Iowa’s aquifers.
   3.  Installing new dedicated monitoring wells is costly, while many existing wells owned by businesses or other private entities could provide valuable data if retrofitted with modern monitoring equipment.
   4.  Retrofitting existing wells offers a safe, cost-effective strategy to expand the monitoring network, improve data for water resource management, and protect public health.
   5.  It is therefore in the interest of the state of Iowa to expand the number of wells from which the Iowa geological survey can monitor groundwater levels through a targeted pilot program.
    Sec. 2.  PURPOSE.  The purpose of this Act is to increase the number of wells from which the Iowa geological survey can monitor groundwater levels. Expanding monitoring capacity will provide better statewide data on Iowa’s aquifers, strengthen water management decisions, and protect public health.
    Sec. 3.  PILOT PROGRAM.
   1.  a.  There is appropriated from the general fund of the state to the department of natural resources for the fiscal year beginning July 1, 2026, and ending June 30, 2027, the following amount, or so much thereof as is necessary, to be used for the purposes designated:
   For purposes of establishing and administering a groundwater monitoring expansion program created in this section, including but not limited to procurement of certified monitoring equipment; installation, calibration, and maintenance; telemetry and data integration; program evaluation; and reporting:
   ...................................................................... $    100,000

   b.  Notwithstanding section 8.33, moneys appropriated in this section that remain unencumbered or unobligated at the close of the fiscal year shall not revert but shall remain available for expenditure for the purposes designated until the close of the fiscal year beginning July 1, 2028, and ending June 30, 2029.
   2.  The program shall provide retrofitting for up to one hundred existing wells owned by businesses or other private entities with monitoring equipment under the Iowa groundwater monitoring pilot program. Participation shall be voluntary and require written consent of the property owner.
   3.  The Iowa geological survey shall provide technical guidance to the department of natural resources regarding site selection, installation specifications, and data evaluation. The Iowa geological survey shall prioritize wells that represent a diversity of aquifers and geographic regions to maximize the usefulness of the monitoring data.
   4.  Installations installed pursuant to this section shall meet the following standards:
   a.  Use sanitary well caps and sealed cable entry systems to prevent contamination.
   b.  Be performed by licensed well professionals in compliance with Iowa well construction and public health standards.
   c.  For all monitoring equipment installed in potable wells, be certified for or equivalent to national sanitation foundation/American national standards institute standards 61 and 372 to ensure safety for drinking water.
   5.  Monitoring equipment shall, at a minimum, measure static water level and temperature, but submersible pressure transducers or equivalent devices proven for groundwater level monitoring shall be preferred. Telemetry may include long-range wide area network, cellular, or satellite systems as appropriate to site conditions, with emphasis on cost-effectiveness.
   6.  All monitoring data shall be securely transmitted to the Iowa geological survey for aggregation, storage, and analysis and shall be integrated into the Iowa geological survey’s existing groundwater monitoring network. Well owners shall have access to their own monitoring data for water management and planning.
   7.  All costs of installation and equipment shall be covered by the program within the amount appropriated pursuant to subsection 1.
   8.  The department of natural resources, in consultation with the Iowa geological survey, shall submit a report to the general assembly by December 31, 2028, with the following information:
   a.  The number and location of wells retrofitted.
   b.  Data quality and system reliability.
   c.  Cost per installation.
   d.  Recommendations for statewide expansion of groundwater monitoring.
   9.  This section is repealed July 1, 2029.
    Sec. 4.  EFFECTIVE DATE.  This Act, being deemed of immediate importance, takes effect upon enactment.
EXPLANATION
The inclusion of this explanation does not constitute agreement with
the explanation’s substance by the members of the general assembly.
   This bill relates to groundwater monitoring in the state and establishes a pilot program.
   The bill includes legislative findings recognizing the importance of Iowa’s groundwater resources for drinking water, agriculture, and economic activity. The bill states there are an insufficient number of wells currently monitored by the Iowa geological survey (survey), and that retrofitting existing wells owned by businesses or other private entities with modern monitoring equipment is a cost-effective method to expand the groundwater monitoring network, improve data for water resource management, and protect public health. The bill states it is in the interest of the state of Iowa to expand the number of wells from which the survey may monitor groundwater levels through a pilot program.
   The bill creates a groundwater monitoring expansion pilot program. The bill appropriates $100,000 from the general fund of the state to the department of natural resources (department) for FY 2026-2027. Moneys appropriated to the department to establish and administer a groundwater monitoring expansion pilot program may be used for the procurement of certified monitoring equipment; installation, calibration, and maintenance; telemetry and data integration; program evaluation; and reporting. The bill provides that any unencumbered or unobligated moneys remaining at the close of the fiscal year shall not revert but shall remain available for expenditure until the close of FY 2028-2029.
   The bill provides that the pilot program shall retrofit up to 100 existing wells owned by businesses or other private entities with groundwater monitoring equipment. Participation in the program is voluntary and requires the written consent of the property owner. The survey is required to provide technical guidance to the department regarding site selection, installation specifications, and data evaluation. The survey is also required to prioritize wells that represent a diversity of aquifers and geographic regions to maximize the usefulness of the monitoring data.
   The bill establishes standards for installations and monitoring equipment installed under the pilot program.
   The bill requires all monitoring data to be securely transmitted to the survey for aggregation, storage, and analysis, and the data to be integrated into the survey’s existing groundwater monitoring network. The bill authorizes well owners to have access to their own monitoring data for purposes of water management and planning. The bill directs all costs of installation and equipment under the pilot program to be covered within the amount appropriated for the program.
   The bill requires the department, in consultation with the survey, to submit a report to the general assembly by December 31, 2028. The report must include the number and location of wells retrofitted, an assessment of data quality and system reliability, the cost per installation, and recommendations for the potential statewide expansion of groundwater monitoring. The program is repealed July 1, 2029.
   The bill takes effect upon enactment.