| #Q001 | administrative | reporting | mandatory | Licence Application Information Requirements | agricultural water, other | When applying for a licence, applicants need to provide information to government including the amount of water needed, what the water will be used for, any 'works' that will be constructed to supply water to the land (the 'appurtenant' land), and whether the applicant needs to occupy Crown land to divert and use the water. | | high |
| #Q002 | administrative | operational | mandatory | Licence Annual Rentals | agricultural water, other | The holder of a licence is also responsible for paying annual rentals for the water licence and where applicable, the PCL. | | high |
| #Q003 | operational | operational | mandatory | Beneficial Use on Transferred Land | agricultural water, other | If the licence is transferred to another land parcel, the owner of the land will need to beneficially use the water on the new parcel to maintain the rights to the water. | Applies when a water licence is transferred to another land parcel. | high |
| #Q004 | reporting | reporting | mandatory | Evidence of Beneficial Use | agricultural water, other | A licensee may be required to provide evidence of their beneficial use in areas where there is frequent drought or low stream flows or where there is suspected overuse of water. | In areas where there is frequent drought or low stream flows or where there is suspected overuse of water. | high |
| #Q005 | administrative | operational | mandatory | Pre-requisite for Water Diversion and Use | agricultural water, other | For water uses that require licensing, a licence must be granted before the water can be lawfully diverted and used, except for existing use groundwater. | Applies to water uses requiring licensing, except existing use groundwater. | high |
| #Q006 | administrative | operational | mandatory | Private Land Access Permission | agricultural water, other | A licensee must obtain the permission of any property owner whose land will be affected either by the construction of licensed works or by access. | | high |
| #Q007 | administrative | reporting | recommended | Domestic Groundwater Registration | other | Domestic groundwater users are strongly encouraged to register their water well for free as this helps government to ensure that domestic groundwater use is considered in decision making and during times of water scarcity. | Applies to domestic groundwater users. | high |
| #Q008 | administrative | unknown | recommended | Domestic Surface Water Licensing Application | other | If you rely on surface water for your domestic use, and the local surface or groundwater water source already has water rights issued to others or runs low on supply at different times of the year, you are advised to look into applying for a domestic surface water licence. | If relying on surface water for domestic use and local sources are low or allocated. | high |
| #Q009 | design | operational | recommended | Dugout Impermeable Liner | agricultural water | The dugout should be lined with an impermeable liner or clay layer to prevent groundwater seepage from entering the dugout. | When collecting surface runoff in a dugout. | high |
| #Q010 | administrative | unknown | mandatory | Licence for Groundwater Seepage in Dugout | agricultural water | If seepage enters the dugout, then a licence is required for the diversion, use or storage of water. | If groundwater seepage enters the dugout. | high |
| #Q011 | administrative | unknown | recommended | Domestic Surface Water Licence Requirement in Scarcity | other | To protect your surface water rights it is recommended that domestic use from a surface water source be licensed in areas that frequently experience water scarcity or where population is growing. | In areas that frequently experience water scarcity or where population is growing. | high |
| #Q012 | operational | reporting | mandatory | Qualified Well Drillers Requirement | agricultural water, other | Drilling wells and installing well pumps are restricted activities and in most cases must be performed by a registered well driller or a registered well pump installer who are required to submit records of their work. | When drilling wells and installing well pumps. | high |
| #Q013 | administrative | reporting | recommended | Registration of Existing Unregistered Wells | other | For those wells, consider submitting a well registration. | For domestic wells already in place that are not entered into the provincial well database. | high |
| #Q014 | administrative | unknown | mandatory | Non-Domestic Wells Licensing | agricultural water, other | Wells that are used for purposes other than domestic must be licensed for use. | Applies to non-domestic wells. | high |
| #Q015 | administrative | reporting | mandatory | Existing Groundwater Licensing | agricultural water, other | If the groundwater use occurred on or before February 29, 2016, an 'existing groundwater' licence is required. Proof of use prior to March 1, 2016 must be provided. | If the groundwater use occurred on or before February 29, 2016. | high |
| #Q016 | prohibition | operational | mandatory | Cease Use of Unlicensed Existing Groundwater | agricultural water, other | Non-domestic existing groundwater users who have not applied by March 1, 2022 must stop using groundwater immediately, the licence application may be refused in water-stressed areas, and they will be treated as a 'new user' and will lose recognition of their historical date of first use. | If non-domestic existing groundwater users have not applied by March 1, 2022. | high |
| #Q017 | administrative | unknown | mandatory | New Groundwater Use Application | agricultural water, other | A person who wants to begin using groundwater for a non-domestic purpose must first apply for and obtain a water licence. | When wanting to begin using groundwater for non-domestic purposes. | high |
| #Q018 | prohibition | unknown | mandatory | New Groundwater Permit Before Use | agricultural water, other | A water licence must be issued before water can be used for a non-domestic purpose. | Applies to non-domestic groundwater use. | high |
| #Q019 | administrative | unknown | mandatory | Water Storage Structures Licensing | agricultural water, other | Water storage structures that contain water managed by the province (see Section 5.0) must be licensed. | For water storage structures that contain water managed by the province. | high |
| #Q020 | administrative | unknown | mandatory | Dugout Aquifer or Stream Water Licensing | agricultural water, other | In brief, a licence is required if a dugout contains groundwater from an aquifer, including groundwater that seeps into the dugout, or water that is diverted from a stream. | If a dugout contains groundwater from an aquifer or diverted stream water. | high |
| #Q021 | administrative | unknown | mandatory | Pumping or Draining Groundwater to Dugout Licensing | agricultural water, other | It is common for groundwater to be pumped into the dugout or for groundwater to be drained away from farmland through drain tiles, or away from a home through perimeter drainage, into a dugout. In these circumstances, a storage licence is required. | When pumping or draining groundwater into a dugout. | high |
| #Q022 | design | operational | recommended | Licensed Dugout Impermeable Liner | agricultural water | Dugouts licensed for storage should have an impermeable liner or clay layer preventing seepage in and out of the dugout. | When dugouts are licensed for storage. | high |
| #Q023 | administrative | unknown | mandatory | Dam Safety Regulation Compliance | agricultural water, other | Regardless of whether a water licence under the WSA is required, all dams and berms are subject to the Dam Safety Regulation except for the following: a. The dam or berm is less than 7.5 m in height; and b. The maximum storage behind the dam or berm at full capacity is less than 10,000 m3. | Except if dam/berm is < 7.5m in height AND max storage capacity < 10,000 m3. | high |
| #Q024 | administrative | operational | mandatory | Annual Water Rentals Payment | agricultural water, other | Water users are required to pay annual water rentals to divert and use the allocated water once the licence or use approval is granted. | Once a licence or use approval is granted. | high |
| #Q025 | administrative | operational | mandatory | Retroactive Annual Water Rentals Payment | agricultural water, other | Existing groundwater users are required to pay annual rentals retroactive to February 29, 2016, when the WSA took effect. | Applies to existing groundwater users. | high |
| #Q026 | administrative | operational | guidance | Licensing Application Timing Advice | agricultural water, other | Consequently, water users are advised to apply for and obtain a water licence before they purchase and install a water system. | Applies to water users planning to install a water system. | high |
| #Q027 | administrative | treatment | guidance | Crop Cooling License Guidance | agricultural water | Those who need to use water for crop cooling can apply for a licence for industrial: Crop harvesting, protection and composting. | For users requiring water for crop cooling. | high |
| #Q028 | administrative | operational | mandatory | Application Fee and Rental Exemptions | agricultural water, other | Application fees and annual rentals are not required from: a. Provincial or federal ministries b. First Nations using water on reserve land, c. A person or entity that is exempt under a First Nations treaty final agreement from fees and rentals for water use out of a treaty water reservation. This exemption also applies to those people or entities that were using groundwater on Treaty lands on or before February 29, 2016. d. A person or entity that is exempt under the Nisga'a Final Agreement from fees and rentals for water use out of the Nisga'a Water Reservation. This exemption also applies to those people or entities that were using groundwater on Nisga'a Lands on or before February 29, 2016. e. Use approvals, change approvals, and permits that are processed by the BC Oil and Gas Commission. | Applies to the specified exempt entities and conditions. | high |
| #Q029 | operational | operational | guidance | Irrigation Flow Rate Verification Recommendation | agricultural water | it is useful for licensees to check their irrigation flow rate against the licensed quantity. | | high |
| #Q030 | administrative | reporting | recommended | Regulatory Verification Recommendation | agricultural water, other | Readers are highly encouraged to verify the information with provincial agencies who hold the legal responsibilities to administer and implement the regulations involved in the process. | | high |
| #Q031 | operational | operational | mandatory | Beneficial Use Standard | agricultural water, other | Beneficial use means that the water is used for the purpose and in the quantity described in the licence, and that the water is used as efficiently as practicable. | Applies to all licensed water use in British Columbia. | high |
| #Q032 | operational | operational | guidance | Beneficial Use Initial Timeline | agricultural water, other | Once a licence is obtained, the licensee usually has three years to make beneficial use of the water referred to in the licence (the specific terms and conditions on the licence will specify the requirement). | Standard expectation following the issuance of a new water licence. | high |
| #Q033 | administrative | reporting | mandatory | Metric Unit Requirement for Water Licences | agricultural water, other | Water licences in B.C. follow the metric systems: licence area units are in hectares (ha); licence quantity volume units are in cubic metres (m3); licence flow rate units are in cubic metres per second (m3/sec); per day (m3/day); or per annum (m3/annum). | Applies to all new water licences issued in British Columbia. | high |
| #Q034 | administrative | operational | mandatory | One-time Application Fee Requirement | agricultural water, other | There is a one-time application fee (minimum $250) that is processed when you apply for authorization to divert and use water, for a PCL, for a change approval or for a drilling authorization. | Applies when applying for authorization to divert and use water, a PCL, a change approval, or a drilling authorization. | high |
| #Q035 | administrative | operational | mandatory | Right to Expropriate Land | other | A licensee has the right to expropriate any land reasonably required for the construction, maintenance, improvement, or operation of works authorized or necessarily required under the licence. | | high |
| #Q036 | operational | operational | mandatory | Water Access Priority Ranking | agricultural water, other | If there is not enough water to meet the needs of all the licences issued on a source, including the domestic groundwater use, then access to water is first provided to (in order of priority): 1. domestic groundwater uses and those who hold domestic surface water licences for essential household use; 2. the oldest (or first) licence issued on a source; 3. the next oldest (or second) licence issued on a source; 4. and so on according to the dates of precedence. | During times of water scarcity when supply cannot meet all licensed needs. | high |
| #Q037 | reporting | reporting | guidance | Correcting Well Database Information | other | If the well is incorrectly located, click on 'Submit feedback about this well' to let the Province know of the correct well location. | Applicable when a well owner identifies incorrect location data in the GWELLS database or BC Agriculture Water Calculator. | high |