Ministry of Environment
VICTORIA – The provincial government is taking steps to ensure British Columbia's water resources will be safely and effectively managed for generations. To support B.C.'s modernized water legislation a new fee and rental schedule is being introduced.
The new fee and rental rates will include, for the first time, groundwater use.
Users of groundwater will require a water licence and will be required to pay water fees and rentals. The exceptions are the estimated 80,000 individual household wells throughout the province will not be licensed or charged.
Users of groundwater will also have the same access rights and responsibilities as individuals who obtain their water from surface sources.
This includes assurance their rights are considered should any conflict over water uses arise.
This is the first update to the water fee and rental structure since 2006.
B.C.'s new rental rates range from $0.02 to - $2.25 per 1000 m3 and will be among the lowest in the country, taking effect in 2016. Learn more at: http://engage.gov.bc.ca/watersustainabilityact