OAR 690-250-0130: Regulation of Exempt Groundwater Uses under ORS 537.545

(1) In addition to non-exempt uses, the watermaster may regulate exempt uses of groundwater based on the priority of the exempt uses. The priority date shall be the date the well was completed as shown on the well log. (2) If no completion date is shown on the well log or if no well log is available for the well, the owner of the well may provide other documentation that shows when water use began, to establish the date of priority. Examples of such documentation include but are not limited to the following: (a) Copies of building permits for houses served by the well; (b) Records of power use to pump the well; and (c) Affidavits from people stating when water use began. (3) If no completion date is shown on the well log or if no well log is available, the Director or Director’s designee may interpret the documentation furnished by the well owner or obtained from Department records and determine a priority date. The watermaster shall use the priority date determined to regulate the exempt use.