The District recognizes the complexity of conversion requirements and allows permittees within HGSD Regulatory Areas 2 and 3 with a total water demand greater than 10 million gallons per year to submit a Groundwater Reduction Plan (GRP), provided they comply with the groundwater reduction goals and other milestones in that plan. GRPs must, at a minimum, include details of the strategies and steps necessary for achieving HGSD regulatory requirements. GRPs must be submitted to the HGSD’s Board of Directors for certification.

Minimum requirements for an acceptable GRP include:

  1. Identification of current and projected total water demand
    • The data must be from a source agreed upon by the HGSD
    • Projections must be for a time period sufficiently into the future to achieve full compliance with regulatory requirements
    • Reasons detailing any potential increase in groundwater use
  2. Plans for groundwater reduction
    • Definition of infrastructure requirements to meet the permittee’s projected total water demand
    • Timetable showing what infrastructure will be constructed by a specific date to meet projected requirements
    • Explanation of how infrastructure costs will be financed
    • Identification of the source for the water supply, the water provider, and the amount of water supply available
    • Evidence (executed contractual agreement or financial commitment) that the water supplier has sufficient water supplies or rights and is willing to meet the permittee’s projected alternative water demands necessary to meet HGSD regulatory requirements
    • Timetable showing when contractual agreements or financial commitments will be executed for alternative water demands for 2035 and beyond
    • Preliminary engineering report of the proposed facilities to be constructed, necessary to meet HGSD regulatory requirements, including a description of the proposed project and area maps.
    • Conceptual schematic plans of the proposed facilities to be constructed, necessary to meet HGSD regulatory requirements
  3. Other information reasonably necessary for an adequate understanding of the project.

The HGSD Board of Directors may, during consideration of certifying a GRP, require additional information, milestones, or reports as a condition of issuing the certification.