SECTION 1. Section 2 of chapter 21G of the General Laws, as appearing in the 2016 Official Edition, is hereby amended by inserting at the end of the definition of “Permit” the following sentence:-

The permit program is intended to assist the department in the comprehensive management of the commonwealth’s water resources within its river basins in a manner that ensures an appropriate balance among competing water withdrawals and uses, as well as preservation of the water resource itself.

SECTION 2.Said section 2 of said chapter 21G of the General Laws, as so appearing, is hereby further amended by inserting at the end of the definition of “Registration statement” the following sentence:-

The registration statement is intended to enable the department to document baseline water use in the commonwealth.

SECTION 3.Section 5 of said chapter 21G of the General Laws, as appearing in the 2016 Official Edition, is hereby amended by adding the following paragraph:-

All properly filed water management act renewal registration statements shall entitle the registrants to their registered water use volumes without conditions excepting that the department may require proper metering or other means to accurately measure the volume of water withdrawn under a renewal registration statement. No regulations may be promulgated that would allow the imposition of any such conditions other than withdrawal volume measurement.