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Document ID ca-ab-waaltr-1999 Title Water Allocations and Transfers URL https://www.alberta.ca/water-allocations-and-transfers Jurisdiction /ca/ab Subdomain(s) Permitting, zoning & urban planning, Regulations & standards Language en Status completed Analyzed at 2026-03-24 02:57:44.909747+00:00 Relevance Describes regulatory requirements for water diversion, licensing, and permits.

9 Qualitative 3 Quantitative 7 Definitions

Q Qualitative Requirements (9)

Req ID	Category	Intent	Legal Status	Name	Subdomain(s)	Context	Conditions	Confidence
#Q001	administrative	unknown	mandatory	Household User Qualification Requirements	drinking water, other	To qualify as a household user under section 21, a person must own or occupy land that adjoins a river, stream, lake, natural watercourse or other natural water body, or own or occupy land under which groundwater exists.	To qualify as a household user under section 21 of the Water Act	high
#Q002	operational	operational	mandatory	Household Water Use Restrictions	drinking water, agricultural water, other	The water must be used for human consumption, sanitation, fire prevention and watering animals, gardens, lawns and trees.	When utilizing the statutory right for household purposes	high
#Q003	reporting	reporting	mandatory	Subdivision Water Availability Report	drinking water, other	To address any concerns regarding the development of subdivisions, the Water Act (section 23) requires that a report be submitted to the subdivision authority.	When developing proposed subdivisions	high
#Q004	reporting	reporting	mandatory	Traditional Agriculture Disposition Notification	agricultural water	The Water Act requires that the Designated Director under the Water Act (Director) be notified in writing of a disposition such as a sale or purchase of land for which a registration is appurtenant.	Upon sale or purchase of land with an appurtenant traditional agriculture water registration	high
#Q005	administrative	unknown	mandatory	Water Diversion Licensing Requirement	drinking water, agricultural water, other	Under the Water Act , a licence is required for diversions of water with a few exceptions: Household purposes, Registration for traditional agriculture use, Those diversions identified under the Water Act - Water (Ministerial) Regulation	Applies to all water diversions unless exempted	high
#Q006	administrative	unknown	mandatory	Water Allocation Transfer Authorization	agricultural water, other	These require that a transfer must first be authorized in a water management plan or through an order of Cabinet.	When transferring a water allocation under a licence	high
#Q007	prohibition	operational	mandatory	Prohibition of Transfer for Household and Traditional Agricultural Rights	drinking water, agricultural water	the Water Act specifically states that the rights related to household purposes and registrations for traditional agricultural uses are not subject to the transfer provisions. These rights will always remain attached to the land.	Applies to water rights obtained under Section 21 (household purposes) or via traditional agricultural registrations.	high
#Q008	operational	operational	mandatory	Temporary Transfer Reversion Requirement	other	With a temporary transfer, the transferred allocation reverts to the original licensee after a specified time period.	Applies to temporary transfers of water allocations	high
#Q009	prohibition	operational	mandatory	Water Conservation Holdback Reallocation Prohibition	aquatic life, other	The government's holdback of up to 10% of the water in an allocation transfer can remain in the natural water body or be held in a Water Conservation Objective licence and will not be available for reallocation for other uses.	Applies to the up to 10% holdback from permanent and temporary transfers of allocations	high

P Quantitative Requirements (3)

Req ID	Category	Intent	Legal Status	Name	Subdomain(s)	Limit Type	Limit Value	Context	Conditions	Confidence
#P001	operational	operational	mandatory	Household Purposes statutory right maximum	other	requirement	<= 1250 cubic metres	per year per household	Water must be used for human consumption, sanitation, fire prevention and watering animals, gardens, lawns and trees	high
#P002	operational	operational	mandatory	Traditional Agriculture Use exemption maximum	agricultural water	requirement	<= 6250 cubic metres	per year	divert for the purposes of raising animals or applying pesticides to crops without a formal authorization	high
#P003	operational	operational	guidance	Water Allocation Transfer holdback maximum	other	requirement	<= 10 %	of the water in an allocation transfer	applies to permanent and temporary transfers of allocations	high

D Definitions (7)

Req ID	Name	Context	Confidence
#D001	Director	Designated Director under the Water Act	high
#D002	household user	A person who owns or occupies land that adjoins a river, stream, lake, natural watercourse or other natural water body, or owns or occupies land under which groundwater exists, using water for human consumption, sanitation, fire prevention and watering animals, gardens, lawns and trees up to a maximum of 1,250 cubic metres per year.	high
#D003	exempted agriculture users	Users who on or before January 1, 1999 owned or occupied land adjoining a water body or land under which groundwater exists, allowed to divert up to 6,250 cubic metres of water per year for raising animals or applying pesticides without formal authorization.	high
#D004	transfer of the right to divert	The transfer of the right to divert a volume of water from a source of water supply, under a certain priority, where there is no physical transfer of water from the land.	high
#D005	holdback	A government withholding of up to 10% of the water in an allocation transfer which can remain in the natural water body or be held in a Water Conservation Objective licence and will not be available for reallocation.	high
#D006	registration	A water right in the form of a registration is attached to the land specified in the registration and will pass with the land if the land is sold to a new owner.	high
#D007	temporary transfer	With a temporary transfer, the transferred allocation reverts to the original licensee after a specified time period.	high