Water Protection Act

With a name like the Water Protection Act one might expect a comprehensive code to protect B.C.’s water resources from pollution and overuse.  In actual fact the Water Protection Act is concerned almost entirely with regulating the bulk export of water from B.C.  It is administered by the Ministry of Water, Land and Air Protection. 

The Act provides that no person shall remove water from B.C. unless he or she:

·          Has a water licence under the Water Act and has been registered under the Water Protection Act for bulk export of surface water (known as a “licensed registrant”);

·          Is registered under the Water Protection Act for the bulk water export of ground water (known as an “unlicensed registrant”);

·          Removes the water in packaged containers of 20 litres less; or

·          Obtained the water outside British Columbia.

The Act prohibits the issuance of new licences authorizing bulk water exports, and only provides for the registration of bulk water export facilities that were in operation before June 1, 1995 (although there are provisions for transferring earlier rights to export to new owners). 

In effect, therefore, anyone who wants to export water from B.C. who is not already registered can only do so in containers of 20 litres or less. 

Relates Guide Pages:

·          Water Act

For more information about the Water Protection Act:

·          Electronic Copy of the Water Protection Act.