(a) Groundwater withdrawals governed by this chapter, including withdrawals of injected water, are subject to reasonable board rules and orders, taking into account all factors, including availability of surface water or alternative water supplies, economic impact on persons and the community, degree and effect of subsidence on the surface of land, and differing topographical and geophysical characteristics of land areas in the district.(b) The board may issue permits to drill new wells and may, by rule, provide exemptions from the permit requirements. The district shall grant a permit to drill and operate a new well inside a platted subdivision if water service from a local retail public utility is not available to the lot where the well is to be located.(c) In this section, 'retail public utility' has the meaning assigned by Section 13.002, Water Code. Acts 2003, 78th Leg., ch. 1277, Sec. 1, eff. April 1, 2005.Amended by: Acts 2005, 79th Leg., Ch. 238 (S.B. 1537), Sec. 15, eff. May 27, 2005.Acts 2013, 83rd Leg., R.S., Ch. 1187 (S.B. 1031), Sec. 6, eff. June 14, 2013.