Wells & Groundwater Licensing in the Trust Area Webinar Q&A

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Wells & Groundwater Licensing in the Trust Area Webinar 
We have provided answers to some of the questions that we’re not answered during the webinar: 
Question Answer 
Do instructions and requirements that specify "wells" also 
include ponds or dug wells?  Are they considered the same 
thing under the WSA?  Do ponds and open, dug wells need to 
be registered? 
A pond is considered a stream under the Water Sustainability 
Act (WSA) and an authorization is required before a person can 
divert water from any stream in BC. A well is any artifical 
opening in the ground made for diverting groundwater. This 
includes drilled wells and dug wells, and often includes dugouts 
since dugouts usually intercept and collect groundwater. The 
use of water from any well for non-domestic purpose requires 
an authorization. Domestic groundwater users do not need an 
authorization and are encouraged to register their well. 
Preserving forest cover on the Gulf islands is an important way 
to protect our groundwater, maximize absorption and retention 
of rainfall. Does the ministry understand how important it is to 
prevent clearcutting, and insisting on ecologically sustainable 
annual cut rates for commercial logging? 
You may be interested in government's proposal to develop a 
Watershed Security Strategy and Fund. More information on 
the project can be found at 
https://engage.gov.bc.ca/watershedsecurity. A discussion 
paper has been prepared based on what the government has 
heard from Indigenous peoples, key stakeholders, internal 
experts, opinion leaders, and the public. It highlights some of 
the science and policy opportunities the eventual watershed 
security strategy may explore. Feedback on the discussion 
paper is invited between January 25 and March 18, 2022 at 4 
PM 
One matter I am hoping to learn about is the benefit of 
licensing for conservation and influence on decision-making.  
The definition of conservation purpose is "the diversion, 
retention or use of water for the purpose of conserving fish or 
wildlife and includes the construction of works for that 
purpose." Water cannot be licenced for the purpose of 
preventing it from being diverted and used for another 
purpose. Environmental flow needs must be considered for 
every application made under the Water Sustainability Act.  

Another tool to prevent water from being licenced for other 
purposes is a water reservation under Section 39 1 (d) of the 
Water Sustainability Act.  
We have a parcel of land on Gambier Island that is a group of 10 
family summer cabins (not rentals) but isn't a strata but 
maintained/owned as a corporation for last ~80years with 
shares to each family cabin.  Would we require to license and 
register since technically we are a corporation but all water use 
is domestic?And if we have more then one well for different 
uses; gardening and domestic use, do you have to license each? 
The type of land ownership (e.g., private, corporation, 
government) is not a fact

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