SC By SCWS Team | February 2, 2026 | 14 min read
SGMA Groundwater Management: What Homeowners Need to Know
If you have a private well in California, you've probably heard about SGMA—but what does it actually mean for you? The Sustainable Groundwater Management Act is California's landmark 2014 legislation aimed at bringing long-term balance to the state's groundwater basins. This plain-language guide explains what SGMA is, how it works, and what it means for homeowners who depend on wells for their water supply.
💡 SGMA Quick Facts for Homeowners
- • What it is: California law requiring sustainable groundwater management
- • Who manages it: Local Groundwater Sustainability Agencies (GSAs)
- • De minimis exemption: Wells under 2 acre-feet/year often exempt from fees
- • Key deadlines: Critically overdrafted basins by 2040, others by 2042
- • Your action: Find your GSA, understand your basin, participate
What is SGMA?
The Sustainable Groundwater Management Act (SGMA), passed in 2014, was California's response to decades of groundwater overdraft—essentially, more water being pumped out of underground aquifers than was being recharged naturally.
The Problem SGMA Addresses
For over a century, California had almost no regulations on groundwater pumping. Unlike surface water (rivers, lakes), groundwater was essentially a "pump all you want" resource. The result:
- Dropping water tables: Some areas saw water levels drop hundreds of feet
- Land subsidence: Parts of the San Joaquin Valley have sunk 28+ feet
- Dry wells: Thousands of domestic wells went dry during droughts
- Seawater intrusion: Coastal aquifers contaminated with salt water
- Degraded water quality: Concentrated contaminants in shrinking aquifers
SGMA's Solution
SGMA takes a local approach to groundwater management:
🏛️ How SGMA Works
1. Basin Prioritization
DWR categorizes all groundwater basins by priority (High, Medium, Low, Very Low). High and Medium priority basins must be managed under SGMA.
2. Local GSA Formation
Local agencies form Groundwater Sustainability Agencies (GSAs) to manage each basin. This keeps control local rather than state-run.
3. Sustainability Plan Development
GSAs create Groundwater Sustainability Plans (GSPs) with measurable objectives and actions to reach sustainability.
4. Implementation and Enforcement
GSAs implement their plans—which may include metering, fees, pumping limits, and new well restrictions.
What Does "De Minimis" Mean for Homeowners?
You may have heard that domestic well owners are "exempt" from SGMA. This is partially true but often misunderstood.
De Minimis Extractor Definition
SGMA defines a "de minimis extractor" as someone extracting less than 2 acre-feet of groundwater per year for domestic purposes. Let's put that in perspective:
- 2 acre-feet = approximately 652,000 gallons per year
- That's about 1,786 gallons per day
- The average California household uses 200-400 gallons per day
- So most domestic-only well users fall well under the threshold
What the Exemption Does (and Doesn't) Mean
✅ What De Minimis Exemption Provides
- • Generally exempt from pumping fees
- • Generally exempt from mandatory metering
- • Generally exempt from pumping allocations
- • Not required to report extraction amounts
❌ What the Exemption Does NOT Provide
- • NOT exempt from overall basin management
- • NOT protected from declining water levels
- • May still need to register well with GSA
- • New well drilling may still require GSA approval
⚠️ Important Clarification
The de minimis exemption doesn't mean your well is immune to SGMA's effects. If basin-wide pumping reductions are needed, large agricultural and industrial users are typically cut first—but if water levels continue to drop, your domestic well can still go dry. The exemption is from fees and reporting, not from the physical reality of groundwater levels.
Finding Your GSA and Basin Information
Understanding your specific situation requires knowing which groundwater basin you're in and who manages it.
How to Find Your Basin and GSA
Step-by-Step:
- 1. Visit the DWR SGMA Data Viewer
- 2. Enter your property address or zoom to your location
- 3. The map will show your groundwater basin boundaries
- 4. Click on your basin to see:
- • Basin name and number
- • Priority level (High, Medium, Low, Very Low)
- • Critically overdrafted status
- • GSA contact information
- • Link to Groundwater Sustainability Plan
- 5. Contact your GSA directly for specific questions about your property
Basin Priority Levels Explained
📊 What Basin Priority Means for You
Very Low / Low Priority
No SGMA management required. Standard county well permits apply. Minimal new regulations anticipated.
Medium Priority
GSP required. GSA in place. Some new requirements for well owners possible. Must achieve sustainability by 2042.
High Priority
Active management underway. Well registration often required. New wells may need GSA approval. Sustainability deadline 2042.
Critically Overdrafted
Strictest management. Some have moratoriums on new wells. Active pumping reductions. Sustainability deadline 2040.
How SGMA Affects Drilling New Wells
One of the most immediate ways SGMA affects homeowners is through new well drilling requirements.
Additional Requirements Beyond County Permits
In SGMA-managed basins, you typically need more than just a county well permit:
- GSA notification: Many GSAs require advance notice of new well applications
- GSA approval: Some basins require explicit GSA approval before drilling
- Well registration: New wells may need to be registered with the GSA
- Metering: Even domestic wells may require meters in some basins
- Fees: GSA application/registration fees (separate from county permit fees)
Basins with Drilling Restrictions
Some critically overdrafted basins have implemented moratoriums or severe restrictions on new wells. As of 2026, these include:
- Paso Robles area: Strict limitations on new agricultural wells
- San Joaquin Valley basins: Various restrictions in critically overdrafted areas
- Borrego Valley: Allocation system limits total pumping
- Indian Wells Valley: Severe restrictions due to overdraft
🚨 Before Buying Property
If you're considering purchasing property with plans to drill a well, verify SGMA status BEFORE buying. In some areas, you may not be able to drill a new well at all, or may face significant restrictions. This can dramatically impact property usability and value.
Understanding Your GSP (Groundwater Sustainability Plan)
Every high and medium priority basin has (or will have) a Groundwater Sustainability Plan. These documents can be dense and technical, but here are the key sections that affect homeowners:
Key GSP Elements for Homeowners
- Sustainable Management Criteria: What water levels/conditions are the targets?
- Minimum Thresholds: How low can water levels go before it's "undesirable"?
- Projects and Management Actions: What will the GSA do to achieve sustainability?
- Fee Structures: How will management be funded?
- Well Registration Requirements: Do you need to register your well?
- New Well Policies: What are the rules for drilling new wells?
Where to Find Your GSP
- DWR SGMA Portal: sgma.water.ca.gov/portal
- Your GSA's website (usually has the most current version)
- Request a copy from your GSA directly
What Homeowners Can Do
1. Stay Informed
- Find your GSA and sign up for their newsletter/notifications
- Attend public meetings (especially when GSP updates are discussed)
- Review annual reports showing basin conditions
- Understand your rights and any requirements
2. Participate in GSA Governance
- Domestic well owners are stakeholders—your voice matters
- Comment on GSP updates and proposed changes
- Join domestic well owner stakeholder groups if available
- Communicate concerns about impacts to domestic wells
3. Document Your Well and Usage
- Keep copies of well completion reports and permits
- Track water levels if you have access to measure them
- Note any changes in well performance over time
- Maintain records of any well testing or maintenance
4. Maintain Your Well
- A well-maintained well performs better as conditions change
- Regular pump maintenance prevents unexpected failures
- Consider water level monitoring to catch problems early
- Address sediment or performance issues promptly
5. Consider Water Efficiency
- Water-efficient landscaping reduces demand on your well
- Fix leaks promptly
- High-efficiency appliances use less water
- Rainwater harvesting can supplement well water
If Your Well Is Affected
If you're concerned that declining water levels are affecting your well:
Steps to Take:
- 1. Document the problem: Note when issues started, specific symptoms, any changes over time
- 2. Have your well tested: Professional testing can determine current water levels and pump performance
- 3. Contact your GSA: Report the issue; ask about programs for affected domestic well owners
- 4. Explore options: Well deepening, pump lowering, new well (if permitted), or connecting to water district
- 5. Seek assistance: Some counties and GSAs have programs to help affected domestic well owners
- 6. Consider legal counsel: If significant impacts, a water rights attorney can advise on options
SGMA Timeline
Where we are in SGMA implementation as of 2026:
| Date | Milestone | Status (2026) |
|---|---|---|
| 2014 | SGMA passed | ✓ Complete |
| 2017 | GSAs formed | ✓ Complete |
| 2020 | Critically overdrafted GSPs due | ✓ Complete |
| 2022 | High/Medium priority GSPs due | ✓ Complete |
| 2026 | Implementation underway | ← We are here |
| 2040 | Critically overdrafted basins sustainable | ⏳ Upcoming |
| 2042 | All managed basins sustainable | ⏳ Upcoming |
Frequently Asked Questions
What is SGMA and why should homeowners care?
SGMA (Sustainable Groundwater Management Act) is California's 2014 law requiring sustainable management of groundwater basins. Homeowners should care because it can affect your ability to drill new wells, may require well registration in some areas, could eventually include pumping fees, and will impact groundwater levels and reliability in your basin.
Am I exempt from SGMA as a domestic well owner?
Domestic wells using less than 2 acre-feet per year (about 650,000 gallons) are classified as "de minimis extractors" and are generally exempt from most fees and metering requirements. However, you're not exempt from overall basin management—if water levels decline, your well can still be affected. You may still need to register your well with the GSA.
What is a GSA and how does it affect me?
A Groundwater Sustainability Agency (GSA) is the local agency responsible for managing groundwater in your basin under SGMA. GSAs can require well registration, implement pumping restrictions, charge fees, require metering, and regulate new well drilling. Find your GSA through the California DWR SGMA portal.
Can I still drill a new domestic well under SGMA?
In most basins, yes, but it's getting more complicated. Some critically overdrafted basins have moratoriums or restrictions on new wells. Even where allowed, you may need GSA notification or approval in addition to the county permit. The process and requirements vary by basin, so check with your GSA before planning a new well.
Will I have to pay pumping fees for my domestic well?
Currently, de minimis domestic users (under 2 acre-feet/year) are generally exempt from pumping fees in most GSAs. However, some GSAs charge registration fees or flat annual fees. As basins work toward sustainability, fee structures may change. Large domestic users or those in critically overdrafted basins may face fees sooner.
What are "undesirable results" under SGMA?
Undesirable results are negative conditions GSAs must prevent, including: significant and unreasonable lowering of groundwater levels, reduction in groundwater storage, seawater intrusion, land subsidence, degraded water quality, and impacts to interconnected surface water. If your well goes dry due to declining levels, that's an undesirable result the GSA should be working to prevent.
How do I find out what basin my property is in?
Use the California DWR SGMA Data Viewer at https://sgma.water.ca.gov/webgis/. Enter your address to find your groundwater basin, its priority level, the responsible GSA, and links to the Groundwater Sustainability Plan. Your county environmental health department can also help identify your basin.
What if my well goes dry due to SGMA management?
This is a complex issue. GSAs are supposed to prevent "undesirable results" including significant drops in water levels. However, domestic well impacts haven't always been prioritized. Some GSAs are developing programs for well owners affected by declining levels. If your well is threatened, document the situation, attend GSA meetings, and consider consulting a water rights attorney.
Questions About Your Well or SGMA?
Southern California Well Service has been helping homeowners navigate well ownership for over 20 years, including the changing landscape under SGMA. While we can't provide legal advice on water rights, we can help you maintain your existing well, explore options if your well is affected by declining water levels, or guide you through the process of drilling a new well in compliance with current regulations. Contact us for a consultation.
