{"id":5196,"date":"2025-09-22T12:58:21","date_gmt":"2025-09-22T19:58:21","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/engage.gov.bc.ca\/watersustainabilityact\/?p=5196"},"modified":"2026-02-24T10:24:17","modified_gmt":"2026-02-24T18:24:17","slug":"engagement-opportunity-expediting-existing-use-groundwater-applications","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/engage.gov.bc.ca\/watersustainabilityact\/2025\/09\/22\/engagement-opportunity-expediting-existing-use-groundwater-applications\/","title":{"rendered":"Engagement opportunity: Expediting existing use groundwater applications"},"content":{"rendered":"

Natural resource permitting plays a significant role in the government\u2019s 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.<\/span> 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.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

What is groundwater?\u00a0<\/span><\/b><\/h2>\n

Communities depend on access to safe and reliable water. <\/span>Groundwater<\/span><\/a> is a primary source of drinking water for many communities in B.C., with an estimated 25% of the province\u2019s population getting their drinking water from groundwater sources. Groundwater\u202fis water that occurs naturally below ground and is usually brought to the surface through water wells.\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

T<\/span>he Water Sustainability Act<\/span><\/a> (WSA) that came into force in 2016 introduced new measures to better manage and protect our groundwater supplies <\/span>so that water is available to sustain environmental, economic and human needs now and into the future.<\/span> Under the WSA, non-domestic groundwater uses, such as for irrigation or commercial and industrial purposes, require authorization. Groundwater used for domestic purposes, which includes water for household needs, fire prevention, gardening and care for domestic animals, do not require authorization.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

What\u2019s the challenge?<\/span><\/b>\u00a0<\/span><\/h2>\n

Between February 29, 2016 and March 1, 2022, those who had been using groundwater before the WSA took effect could apply as existing groundwater users and receive certain benefits not available to new groundwater users. The <\/span>Water Sustainability Regulation section 55<\/span><\/a> describes these benefits. The Province received most of the approximately 8,000 applications for existing groundwater use within the six months before the end of the transition period. This created a backlog of applications that led to long wait-times for water licence applicants. Along with establishing a new dedicated team to review the applications, the Ministry of Water Land and Resource Stewardship is exploring ways to eliminate the remaining backlog of existing groundwater use applications.\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

What\u2019s the opportunity?<\/span><\/b><\/h2>\n

The Province is seeking to streamline the application review and decision process to clear the backlog. Though existing groundwater use applicants can continue using groundwater while they await a decision, an approved water licence provides more business certainty to its holder and supports the province in better knowledge of the use of the resource. The Province wants to provide timely application review to support business certainty.\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

The Province will consider proposed changes to water policies and procedures that help fulfill these priorities:<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n