KRS 151.140: Withdrawal of water from public waters, permit required -- Exceptions.

No person, business, industry, city, county, water district, or other political subdivision

shall have the right to withdraw, divert, or transfer public water from a stream, lake,

ground water source or other body of water, unless such person, business, in dustry, city,

county, water district or other political subdivision has been granted a permit by the

cabinet for such withdrawal, diversion, or transfer of water. Provided, however, no permit

shall be required for and nothing herein shall interfere with th e use of water for

agricultural and domestic purposes including irrigation; and no permit shall be required if

the amount of water withdrawn, diverted or transferred is less than the amount established

by regulation and no permit shall be required for wate r used in the production of steam

generating plants of companies whose retail rates are regulated by the Kentucky Public

Service Commission or for which plants a certificate of environmental compatibility from

such commission is required by law, or water i njected underground in conjunction with

operations for the production of oil or gas.