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SB 877

Environment and Conservation, Department of - As introduced, requires the department to make available a list of the registered withdrawals of 10,000 or more gallons of water per day from a surface water or a groundwater source in a publicly accessible place on the department's website. - Amends TCA Title 4; Title 7; Title 59; Title 65; Title 66; Title 68 and Title 69.

114th Regular Session (2025-2026)

Tennessee requires public disclosure of water withdrawals exceeding 10,000 gallons daily to increase transparency and accountability in state water resource management.

Assigned to General Subcommittee of Senate Energy, Ag., and Nat. Resources Committee
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Bill Summary · SB 877

Legislative bill overview

SB 877 requires Tennessee's Department of Environment and Conservation to publicly publish a list of all registered water withdrawals exceeding 10,000 gallons per day from surface and groundwater sources on its website. The bill amends multiple sections of Tennessee code related to environmental management, natural resources, and water regulation across seven title sections.

Why is this important

Water withdrawal data transparency enables citizens, researchers, and policymakers to monitor large-scale water consumption patterns and identify potential sustainability concerns in their regions. Public access to this information supports informed decision-making about water resource allocation, environmental protection, and can facilitate accountability for major water users like industries and municipalities.

Potential points of contention

  • Definition and enforcement scope: The bill specifies 10,000 gallons per day as the threshold, which may exclude significant mid-sized users or create administrative burdens if the threshold is too low for practical monitoring
  • Data privacy concerns: Large agricultural operations, private businesses, or municipalities may argue that publishing withdrawal data creates competitive disadvantages or raises privacy issues for private entities
  • Implementation costs and responsibility: The bill doesn't clearly detail funding, staffing, or technical infrastructure requirements for the Department to compile, verify, and maintain this publicly accessible database

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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