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Document ID ca-bc-lgbqalwd-2022-03-01 Title Licensing Groundwater in B.C. Questions and Answers on Livestock Watering and Dugouts URL unknown Jurisdiction /ca/bc Subdomain(s) Groundwater, Surface water, Agricultural water Language en Status completed Analyzed at 2026-03-15 08:27:33.434788+00:00 Relevance Defines legal licensing requirements for groundwater and dugout use in B.C.

Q Qualitative Requirements (18)

Req ID Category Intent Legal Status Name Subdomain(s) Context Conditions Confidence
#Q001administrativeoperationalmandatoryNon-domestic well water licence requirementagricultural water, otherIf you use water from a well for non-domestic use, you are legally required to obtain a water licence.If you use water from a well for non-domestic usehigh
#Q002administrativeoperationalmandatoryExisting user application deadlineagricultural water, otherIf you are an 'existing user' (see main QA document) you have until March 1, 2022 to apply for a water licence.If you are an 'existing user'high
#Q003prohibitionoperationalmandatoryProhibition on groundwater use after missed deadlineagricultural water, otherMissing the deadline could have significant consequences on your water use: you must stop using, diverting and storing groundwaterIf the March 1, 2022 deadline is missedhigh
#Q004administrativeoperationalmandatoryIndustrial livestock watering authorizationagricultural waterLivestock watering remains defined as an 'industrial' water use purpose and all industrial livestock watering requires a water authorization under the Water Sustainability Act (WSA).For industrial livestock wateringhigh
#Q005administrativeoperationalrecommendedExisting user application recommendationagricultural waterIf a livestock producer's use of groundwater began before March 1, 2016 , they are considered an 'existing user' and are encouraged to apply for an existing use groundwater (EUGW) licence prior to the March 1, 2022 deadline.If a livestock producer's use of groundwater began before March 1, 2016high
#Q006administrativeoperationalmandatoryNew user groundwater licence requirementagricultural waterIf groundwater use began on or after March 1, 2016 , the livestock producer is considered as a 'new user' and they must apply for a water licence before they can lawfully begin diverting and using groundwater.If groundwater use began on or after March 1, 2016high
#Q007prohibitionoperationalmandatoryProhibition on use for unapplied existing usersagricultural waterExisting groundwater users who have not applied by March 1, 2022 must stop using groundwater and will lose recognition of their historical date of first use.Existing groundwater users who have not applied by March 1, 2022high
#Q008administrativeoperationalmandatorySurface water authorization for livestock producersagricultural waterAll livestock producers using surface water require a water authorization.Using surface waterhigh
#Q009administrativeoperationalmandatoryDugout water authorization requirementagricultural waterAn authorization under the WSA is needed if any of the water in the dugout comes from groundwater or from a ' stream ' as defined under the WSA.If any of the water in the dugout comes from groundwater or from a 'stream'high
#Q010administrativeoperationalmandatoryConditions for dugout authorizationagricultural waterAn authorization is needed for a dugout that: - has groundwater seepage or water that comes from a well ... or - in any way intercepts or is built within a stream (as defined under the WSA)If dugout has groundwater seepage, comes from a well, intercepts, or is built within a streamhigh
#Q011administrativereportingrecommendedListing dugouts on applicationagricultural waterAll dugouts and related works should be listed on the application.high
#Q012administrativeoperationalmandatoryMixed water supply dugout authorizationagricultural waterIf there is stream or groundwater in the dugout, then an authorization is required.If there is stream or groundwater in the dugouthigh
#Q013administrativereportingrecommendedWater source citation on applicationagricultural waterAn application should be made citing the primary source of water (i.e. surface or groundwater) and listing other possible water sources.If dugout has a mixed water supplyhigh
#Q014administrativeoperationalguidanceExemption from authorizationagricultural waterAn authorization is not required if: 1. the diversion, use, or storage is exempted by legislation (e.g. the diversion of water while fighting a fire or the use of groundwater for domestic purposes); OR, 2. the dugout fills entirely from precipitation or runoff.If exempted by legislation or if dugout fills entirely from precipitation or runoff under specific conditionshigh
#Q015administrativehealthmandatoryDam Safety Regulation complianceagricultural water, otherThere are safety requirements under the Dam Safety Regulation if a dam is over 7.5 m tall or capable of storing more than 10,000 m³ of water.If a dam is over 7.5 m tall or capable of storing more than 10,000 m³ of waterhigh
#Q016administrativereportingmandatoryJoint Works Agreement requirementagricultural water, otherJoint Works Agreement, if you share or are connected to another person's worksif you share or are connected to another person's workshigh
#Q017administrativeoperationalrecommendedPre-visit phone call recommendationotherPlease call before going to an office to get help with your application.before going to an office to get help with your applicationhigh
#Q018corrective_actionoperationalmandatoryPriority of diversion orders during droughtagricultural waterIf drought or water scarcity occurs, unauthorized users are the first to be ordered to cease diverting water.During drought or water scarcity for unauthorized usershigh

P Quantitative Requirements (3)

Req ID Category Intent Legal Status Name Subdomain(s) Limit Type Limit Value Context Conditions Confidence
#P001designunknownmandatorydam heightagricultural water, otherrequirement> 7.5 mThere are safety requirements under the Dam Safety Regulation if a dam meets certain criteriaif a dam is over 7.5 m tallhigh
#P002designunknownmandatorydam storage capacityagricultural water, otherrequirement> 10,000 m³There are safety requirements under the Dam Safety Regulation if a dam meets certain criteriacapable of storing more than 10,000 m³ of waterhigh
#P003operationaloperationalmandatoryUse approval durationagricultural water, otherrequirement<= 24 monthsA water licence is long-term, while a use approval is for shorter-term use of up to 24 months.Applies to authorizations issued as use approvals under the Water Sustainability Acthigh

D Definitions (14)

Req ID Category Name Context Confidence
#D001EUGWexisting use groundwaterhigh
#D002WSAWater Sustainability Acthigh
#D003existing userIf a livestock producer's use of groundwater began before March 1, 2016 , they are considered an 'existing user'medium
#D004new userIf groundwater use began on or after March 1, 2016 , the livestock producer is considered as a 'new us er'medium
#D005streamIt covers any natural watercourse or body of water, whether or not it was modified, and even where water is only available seasonally.high
#D006damA dam is a barrier constructed for the purpose of storing or diverting ground or surface water.high
#D007livestock wateringdefined as an 'industrial' water use purposehigh
#D008water licenceA water licence is long-termhigh
#D009use approvala use approval is for shorter-term use of up to 24 months.high
#D010overland flownot from a water source that is considered a stream under the WSAhigh
#D011BCeIDonline accounthigh
#D012authorizationAn authorization can be a water licence or use approval.high
#D013GWellsWell Data Searchhigh
#D014main QA documentLicensing Groundwater in B.C. Questions and Answers documenthigh