(a) General rule.--In cooperation with the Compact Basin Commissions and Federal, State and regional agencies with responsibilities relating to water resources management, the department shall establish and maintain a Statewide system to gather, process and distribute information on the availability, distribution, quality and use of water resources of this Commonwealth.

(b) Other commissions and agencies.--The department shall invite interested Compact Basin Commissions and Federal, State and regional agencies with responsibilities relating to water resources management to join the Statewide data system and shall cooperate with any such agency choosing to join the system.

(c) Fee.--Information gathered in the Statewide data system, subject to protection provided to confidential business information under section 3119 (relating to confidential information), shall be made available to any person on payment of a reasonable fee, as established by the department with the advice of the Statewide committee, to cover the expenses of making such information available to that person.