NSW’s water regulator has commenced prosecutions against three irrigators.

Two water users from Griffith and one from Moree face seperate charges of breaching the Water Management Act 2000, after they allegedly took water in excess of their approvals.

In relation to the Griffith charges, one man faces seven charges and another just one instance.

A Moree irrigation company is charged with 43 offences, the most in the regulator’s history.

The state’s Natural Resources Access Regulator (NRAR) chief regulatory officer Grant Barnes says the alleged offences took place between 2016 and June 2020.

“We've issued a record 43 charges for allegedly taking water while metering equipment was not operating properly, to constructing an unlawful dam, [and] using that dam without an approval,” he told the ABC.

“And for taking water, which was not authorised by a licence or approval.

“We're alleging that the company took around 1,200 megalitres of water in excess of the licence allocation, and that unlawful water take took place at the Gwydir River.

“It's the largest number of charges that we've laid in a single situation.

“And it just reflects the breadth of alleged offending and the time over which we believe it's occurred.”

The maximum penalties for the offences range from $1,000,100 to $2,000,200.

The NRAR has employed hi-tech satellite imagery and information from the public in building its case for prosecution.

NRAR alleges the Griffith irrigators pumped more water than their licence allowed from an at-risk groundwater source in the lower Murrimbidgee between June 2017 and June 2020.

“Now the total here is significant — we believe over 6,000 megalitres of water has been taken in excess of the licensed allocation,” Mr Barnes said.

The irrigator facing seven charges could be fined up to $500,500 for each of the offences if found guilty.

Mr Barnes said most irrigators comply with the law.

“The conduct here appears to be willful and reckless [it will be alleged], so prosecution is the right decision for us to take,” he said.

The matters are listed for hearings on June 11 in the Land and Environment Court.