A water appropriation is an authorization granted by the state Water Management Board to make a private, beneficial use of the state's water resources. An approved appropriation authorizes use of either ground or surface water and is issued as either a water right permit for a new water use or as a vested water right for an existing water use predating March 2, 1955. A permit to appropriate water is needed for all water uses in South Dakota except for certain domestic uses of water.
Domestic use is the highest use of water and takes precedence over all appropriative uses.
Any domestic use in excess of either 25,920 gpd or 25 gpm requires obtaining a permit to appropriate water. For additional information about who needs a water appropriation, please refer to the web page Using Water in South Dakota . An application to appropriate water needs to be filed on forms supplied by the chief engineer. Information needed on the application includes the water source, amount of water to be claimed, diversion point locations, annual period during which water may be used and type of use. The application also needs to include a map of the project, the application fee, and supplemental information such as the storage capacity of impoundment structures or a well driller's test hole or well log, when applicable.