Deadline approaches for groundwater users to apply for a licence

There may be serious consequences for water use if March 1, 2022, deadline is missed. Existing groundwater users who have not applied by the deadline will be unauthorized and must stop using water immediately.

Those who miss the deadline will be treated as “new users.” Their date of first use will no longer be recognized, and the licence may be refused in water-stressed areas. The historical date is crucial because older licences have priority access to water during shortages.

According to the province, missing the deadline could be costly and may include fines for unlicensed use of groundwater. Water licence applications made after the deadline will not benefit from the waived application fee and may require costly studies to support an application.

The online application has been improved and one-on-one assistance for submitting an application is available through FrontCounter BC.

Existing groundwater users are encouraged to have key pieces of information available to help the online application process go smoothly, such as:

* well location, depth and construction;

* legal description of the property;

* evidence of when groundwater was first used;

* history of use from the well; and

* other related information about water use and works.

Over the past decade, British Columbia has witnessed the increasingly dramatic impact of a changing climate on water resources and drought conditions. Recent experiences demonstrate the need to prepare for future climate conditions and reinforce the government’s commitment to strengthening water security.

Groundwater licensing helps to ensure a fair and transparent process for determining who uses the water, including during water shortages and helps protect the environment and the businesses and livelihoods that depend on reliable access to water.

by Dave Branco

Deadline approaches for groundwater users to apply for a licence

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