Natural resource permitting plays a significant role in the government’s strategy to strengthen and diversify our economy. B.C. is working across the natural resource sector to streamline permitting, remove barriers and delays, eliminate duplication, simplify processes and shift permitting while maintaining high environmental standards and our commitment under the Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples Act. As part of this work, teams across the natural resource ministries were tasked with identifying areas that would increase efficiency, remove redundancy, and/or reduce administrative burden. Opportunities with the highest potential for impact and timely implementation are being considered for recommendation to Government.
The Water Sustainability Act (WSA) came into force in 2016 and modernized B.C.’s water laws to better manage and protect stream and groundwater supply. In the years since, the Province has continued to work on the WSA’s implementation and effectiveness. The WSA introduced new and improved requirements for groundwater diversion and use. Groundwater is deeply important to the water cycle and to people in British Columbia.
Under the WSA, authorization from the Province is required to divert or use water from a stream or aquifer, unless the activity is specifically allowed without it. These authorizations allow for the diversion, storage, and use of water for specific amounts and purposes. They also determine what works can be constructed and operated to move water from the source to where it’s being used.
What’s being proposed?
The Province is exploring whether, when, or where to allow non-domestic groundwater uses under 2 cubic metres per day (2 m3/day) without requiring an authorization (water licence or use approval). This could cover many small groundwater users, like home-based businesses, small commercial operations, camps, public facilities, and small livestock operations.
2 m3/day is about the same as:
- 1.5 hot tubs worth of water per day
- Drinking water for 40 head of cattle or horses per day
- Daily water use for a 10-room hotel without a swimming pool
- Daily water use for 21 overnight campers at a camp with flush toilets
- Daily water use for 10 workers within a construction work camp
The intention would be to only allow this diversion and use without an authorization within aquifers where water is available. 2 m3/day would be the maximum daily amount of water that could be withdrawn from an aquifer and used for all non-domestic purposes on a single property.
What is non-domestic groundwater use?
Domestic water use purpose is defined in the WSA. In B.C., non-domestic groundwater uses, such as irrigation, commercial, and industrial water use, require authorization. Groundwater used for domestic purposes, which includes water for household needs, fire prevention, watering a small garden, and care for domestic animals, does not require authorization and can generally use up to 2 m3/day. People using groundwater for domestic purposes are considered to have “deemed rights.” This means that, when determining priority of water use during times of low availability, they are treated as if they held an authorization for that 2 m3/day. This is based on evidence of date of first use of that groundwater from their well.
This proposal is for the same quantity as average domestic groundwater use. It is different from the deemed rights of domestic groundwater use and does not change any aspects of that use. Under this proposal, the use of up to 2 m3/day of groundwater for non-domestic purposes would be allowed in addition to any groundwater used for domestic purposes on a property.
Under this proposal, non-domestic groundwater use under 2 m3/day would be allowed but it would not give such users a “right” to use the water the same way that having an authorization (water licence or use approval) does. If an aquifer became fully assigned, low volume non-domestic groundwater users without a licence might be required to stop diverting or using groundwater. Because of this risk, under the proposal, eligible low volume non-domestic groundwater users might still wish to apply for a water licence to ensure their access to groundwater. In addition, engineers or water managers might be given authority under the WSA to require unlicensed low volume non-domestic users to apply for a water licence if their groundwater use could have negative impacts on others, such as:
- Holders of authorizations on the same aquifer or connected stream
- Excluded domestic groundwater users on the same aquifer
- Environmental flow needs for streams connected to the aquifer and other environmental considerations
If this proposal proceeds, the specific rules, criteria, and conditions for this type of low volume non-domestic groundwater use are still being developed, and public feedback will help shape the final approach.
Why is only groundwater under consideration?
Most of the infrastructure needed for groundwater use (wells, pumps, and pipes) are on the same property where the water is being used. Surface water use (like drawing water from a stream) is different and often involves constructing and placing infrastructure across other properties, Crown land, or within the stream. This can cause issues over access or impacts to private property, impacts to other water users or authorization holders, and impacts to the environment.
Also, for water diversion and use from a stream, the placement of infrastructure supporting the water use still requires approval through either a licence application or change approval.
Under the proposal, not every low volume non-domestic groundwater user may qualify for groundwater use without an authorization. For example, the following would still require an authorization:
- Groundwater users exceeding 2 cubic metres (2m3) per day for all non-domestic use
- Groundwater users in areas where a licence would still be required (for example, watersheds with scarcity issues)
- Stream water users (other than for unrecorded domestic use)
These users might still be able to apply for an authorization through the suggested streamlined application review process if they meet eligibility criteria.
The survey closed October 17, 2025.
Your feedback will be used to help shape this proposal:
- What do you think about allowing low volume groundwater use and diversion without requiring an authorization from the Province?
- How might such a change impact you, your work, or your community?
- What ideas to you have for environmental protections should some low volume water use no longer require an authorization from the province?
- What else should be considered?
Learn more about our other identified opportunities to improve natural resource permitting on the govTogetherBC website.