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.
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 ground water supply. The WSA introduced new and improved requirements for groundwater diversion and use. Groundwater is deeply important to the water cycle and to British Columbians. Under the WSA, you need a water licence or a use approval (also known as authorizations) to divert and use groundwater from an aquifer. Use approvals are time-limited and cannot be issued for periods longer than 24 months.
What is construction dewatering?
During construction projects, workers may encounter groundwater while digging. Proper drainage of that water allows construction workers to conduct their work safely and effectively. This activity is known as construction dewatering, and it is especially common in areas with a high water table such as the Lower Mainland.
The Water Sustainability Regulation (WSR) contains certain exemptions:
- Corridor drainage to protect a road or railway line
- Local government drainage works
- Perimeter drainage works to route surface runoff and groundwater away from building foundations
- Some agricultural drainage works and mine drainage works
The exemptions require that the drained water:
- Not be intended for use
- Be discharged without causing a significant risk of harm to public safety, the environment, land or other property
What’s the challenge?
Removing groundwater might affect land stability and reduce water in nearby wells and streams. Other than the above exemptions, an operator wishing to remove groundwater from a construction site must apply for and obtain an authorization under the WSA. There are some existing exemptions to this rule, as noted under WSR, but they are very specific and do not apply to many construction activities. Applying to dewater a construction site can cause project delays and slow development, even on projects that are unlikely to cause harm to public safety, the environment, land or other property.
Construction dewatering is a temporary activity that occurs only during the construction phase of a project. Unlike most other water diversions, there is no beneficial use of the water diverted from a construction site, and the water is discharged back into the environment or storm sewer systems while construction is ongoing.
What’s being proposed?
B.C. is exploring whether there should be changes to authorization requirements for construction dewatering. If such changes were made, many construction dewatering activities might proceed without an authorization. High risk construction dewatering activities would likely still need to apply for and obtain authorization.
If the Province adopted this new approach, some projects may save time and money by no longer having to apply for construction dewatering authorizations. As well, current noncompliance will improve. Provincial staff capacity could increase for processing higher risk applications. To protect groundwater all projects would still have to ensure that they do not harm public safety, the environment, land or other property. Any project over a recommended high-risk threshold would have to meet the terms and conditions of their approval.
The approach would likely include measures that, during construction dewatering, the diverted water must not be used for any purpose outlined in the WSA. Whether a project is low or high risk construction operators would still need to comply with any additional requirements under the Groundwater Protection Regulation. If an operator is using a well to divert groundwater, there may be additional requirements for well drilling and reporting. For more information, see the Dewatering and Drainage Wells Water Policy Bulletin and the BC Groundwater Association Handbook.
The Province is considering whether to move forward with this new approach. Considerations include how risk levels for construction dewatering projects might be determined, and how to ensure that risk level thresholds are user-friendly and accessible while representative of risk.
The survey closed October 17, 2025.
Your feedback will be used to help shape this proposal:
- How might a change to construction dewatering authorization impact you, your organization or your community?
- How might low, medium and high-risk construction dewatering activities be identified?
- How might we ensure that a change is user-friendly and easy for applicants to understand?
- Please share any concerns you have regarding a change to construction dewatering.
- What else should be considered?
Learn more about our other proposals to improve natural resource permitting on the govTogetherBC website.