North Dakota
Before commencing any construction for the purpose of appropriating water, a person
must obtain a water permit from the North Dakota State Water Commission (SWC), unless
such construction is for domestic or household use, fish, livestock, wildlife, and
other recreational activities allowed by the law. If the water is used for domestic
purposes, including fish, wildlife, and other recreational uses, then the water
user must notify the state engineer of the location and volume of the constructed
works.
The SWC adheres to the following order of priority when allocating water:
- Domestic use
- Municipal use
- Livestock use
- Irrigation use
- Industrial use
- Fish, wildlife, and other outdoor recreational uses
