The Existing Use Groundwater Application period ends in less than 9 months. Please secure your right to use groundwater now and into the future. Farmers who were using groundwater on or before February 29, 2016, for non-domestic purposes such as irrigation and livestock watering, are legally required to apply for a water license by March 1, 2022.
Read the recent announcement from the B.C. Government encouraging existing groundwater users to submit their applications before the deadline.
Farmers who have applied by the deadline can continue to use groundwater until a decision is made on their application. Those continuing to use groundwater without applying for a license after March 1, 2022 will be committing an offence under the
Water Sustainability Act and may be subject to fines and penalties and ordered to stop using water.
Those who apply after the deadline must apply as a new groundwater user and will lose recognition of their historical date of first use. Water cannot be lawfully diverted, used or stored until a license has been obtained.
Applications can be made online at
groundwater.gov.bc.ca. Anyone who needs help with their water license application can contact FrontCounter BC at 1-877-855-3222.
FrontCounterBC has published a helpful
checklist for applicants and a
Ground Water Licensing Brochure for more information, as well as a 16-minute
How to Apply video that demonstrates how to obtain the information required for your application.