Permit required for construction involving underground formation.

(1) No construction may be begun on a project involving artificial recharge or the intentional introduction of water into any underground formation except as permitted in chapter 377, without the written permission of the governing board of any water management district within which the construction will take place. Such application shall contain the detailed plans and specifications for the construction of the project.

(2) Each water management district has the exclusive authority to process and issue permits under this section and permits and licenses delegated under s. 403.812, except permits required by the department pursuant to 42 U.S.C. s. 300h until delegated by the department to the districts.

(3) A water management district may do any act necessary to replenish the groundwater of the district. The district may, among other things, for the purposes of replenishing the groundwater supplies within the district:

(a) Buy water;

(b) Exchange water;

(c) Distribute water to persons in exchange for ceasing or reducing groundwater extractions;

(d) Spread, sink, and inject water into the underground;

(e) Store, transport, recapture, reclaim, purify, treat, or otherwise manage and control water for the beneficial use of persons or property within the district; and

(f) Build the necessary works to achieve groundwater replenishment.