Many types of environmental projects and undertakings fall under the various Acts, Regulations and Policy Directives that are administered by the Water Resources Management Division.
These activities require the prior approval of the Division before work can proceed. To apply for approval of an activity the Division has a number of different application forms which are listed below. In addition to the application forms, where applicable, there are also fee schedules and guidelines to be used for the different types of projects.
Contact information for the various approvals is outlined in Applications for Permits and Licences Brochure (3.3 MB).
Community Water and Wastewater
Water Supply Systems Training
Applying for Approval / Permit / Authorization
In order to review an application and issue a Approval / Permit / Authorization we must have the following items:
- The appropriate completed application form(s) and schedule(s) for the proposed work and any other required drawings, photos or exhibits.
- A completed Application Fee Schedule with the fees (or proof of payment) as described in the Application Fee Schedule.
- Please note that the Department of Environment and Climate Change provides an online option for the public to pay water resources permit and licence fees. Please refer to the following payment site: https://www.gov.nl.ca/onlineservices
- These must be e-mailed or delivered to the address listed on the application form.
- Indigenous Consultation – If the application is for work in Labrador the proponent must check with the Intergovernmental and Indigenous Affairs Secretariat to determine if Indigenous Consultation is required. If consultation is required, it is the responsibility of the proponent to undertake the consultation. Applications will be considered incomplete without the Indigenous Consultation.
A 16 minute video based “An Applicant’s Guide to the Section 48 – Permit to Alter a Body of Water Process” is available here
A Section 48 permit is required for the following:
- any work (Including fording) in any body of water (including wetlands) prior to the start of construction.
- any work within a floodplain or designated flood risk area prior to the start of construction.
- any work in Shore Water Zones prior to the start of construction. Shore Water Zone means the land that is intermittently occupied by water as a result of the naturally fluctuating surface water level in a body of water which can be either a fresh or salt water body and, in either case, the low water mark and high water mark of the water body defining the edges of the shore water zone.
- any work within fifteen (15) metres of the high water (Flood zone area) mark of a body of water prior to the start of work.
- any work associated with Wharf/Boathouse/Slipway/Breakwater or other works in any body of water prior to the start of construction.
- any storm drainage works involving discharge into a body of water prior to the start of construction.
- any work (Including fording) within wetlands and any infilling within fifteen (15) metres from wetlands.
Please note the standard permit processing time is 4-6 weeks and dependent upon the receipt of all required documentation and approvals.
| Approval / Permit / Licence | Form | Fee Schedule | Applicable Guidelines / Related Information and Resources | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Environmental Permits for Alterations to a Body of Water |
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Application Checklist and Main Form Alterations to a Body of Water (This form is required for Schedule A to J. At least one Schedule must be attached). |
Adobe PDF (284 KB) MS Word (165 KB) |
Application Fee Schedule Adobe PDF (370 KB) MS Word (151 KB)Central Cashiers Office Pre-Authorized Credit Card Form Adobe PDF (330 KB) MS Word (52 KB) |
General Construction Practices (985 KB) | Guidelines for Applying to Alter a Body of Water (8.1 MB) |
| Schedule A Culverts | Adobe PDF (234 KB) MS Word (65 KB) |
Culverts (1.9 MB) Watercourse Crossings (412 KB) |
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| Schedule B Bridges | Adobe PDF (203 KB) MS Word (36 KB) |
Bridges (1.2 MB) | ||
| Schedule C Dams | Adobe PDF (151 KB) MS Word (90 KB) |
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| Schedule D Fording | Adobe PDF (190 KB) MS Word (31 KB) |
Fording (391 KB) | ||
| Schedule E Pipe Crossing – Water Intake |
Adobe PDF (129 KB) MS Word (34 KB) |
Pipe crossings (431 KB) | ||
| Schedule F Stream Modification | Adobe PDF (224 KB) MS Word (60 KB) |
Diversions, New Channels, Major Alterations (729 KB) | ||
| Schedule G Small Bridges | Adobe PDF (191 KB) MS Word (30 KB) |
Stream Crossings by ATV (431 KB) | ||
| Schedule H Infilling, Dredging and Debris Removal | Adobe PDF (262 KB) MS Word (49 KB) |
Wharf, Breakwater, Slipway and Boathouses (738 KB) | ||
| Schedule I Development in a Flood Risk Area | Adobe PDF (259 KB) MS Word (50 KB) |
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| Schedule J Miscellaneous Works | Adobe PDF (254 KB) MS Word (42 KB) |
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| Groundwater | ||||
| Application for Permit for Constructing a Non-Domestic Well | Adobe PDF (221 KB) MS Word (163 KB) |
Fee Schedule Included with form | List of Responsibilities of the Well Driller, Well Owner, and Others concerning Drilled Wells
Guidelines for Disinfecting Dug and Drilled Wells Fact Sheet for Water Well Development by Hydrofracturing List of Water Well Drillers Currently Licenced to Drill Water Wells in the Province Guidelines for the Construction of Ground Sourced Heat Pump Systems |
|
| Development Activity In A Wellhead Protected Water Supply Area | Adobe PDF (362 KB) MS Word (186 KB) (165 KB) |
Fee Schedule Included with Form | List of Responsibilities of the Well Driller, Well Owner, and Others concerning Drilled Wells | |
| Application For Protection of a Public Groundwater Supply Area(s) | Adobe PDF (203 KB) MS Word (148 KB) |
Fee Schedule Included with form | Aquifer Testing Guidelines (1.73 MB) Guidance for Delineation of Wellhead Protection Areas (191 KB) |
|
| Application for Water Well Drilling Licence | Adobe PDF (213 KB) MS Word (151 KB) |
Well Driller Licence Application Process and Responsibility | ||
| Water Well Drilling Licence Renewal | Adobe PDF (259 KB) MS Word (134 KB) |
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| Abandoned Well Sealing | Adobe PDF (106 KB) MS Word |
No Fee | Guidelines for Sealing Groundwater Wells (210 KB) | |
| Groundwater Supply Assessment and Reporting Guidelines for Subdivisions Serviced by Individual Private Wells (274 KB) |
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| Surface Water | ||||
| Development Activity In A Protected Public Water Supply Area | Adobe PDF (210 KB) MS Word (165 KB) |
Fee Schedule Included with Form | ||
| Protection Of A Public Water Supply | Adobe PDF (43 KB) MS Word (451 KB) |
Fee Schedule Included with form | Management of Protected Water Supply Areas (504 KB) | |
| Water and Sewerage | ||||
| Water & Sewerage Works | Adobe PDF (216 KB) MS Word (167 KB) |
Adobe PDF (181 KB) MS Word (137 KB) |
Guidelines for the Design, Construction and Operation of Water and Sewerage Systems | |
| Potable Water Dispensing Units | Selection Criteria and Guidelines for the Design, Construction and Operation of Potable Water Dispensing Units (105 KB) | |||
| Water Use Allocation | ||||
| Application for Water Use Licence | Form (293 KB) Form (232 KB) |
Application Fee Schedule Adobe PDF (300 KB) MS Word(136 KB)Central Cashiers Office Pre-Authorized Credit Card Form Adobe PDF (330 KB) MS Word (42 KB) |
A Water Use Licence is not required for:
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Please consult DFO’s Projects Near Water website to determine if proposed works, activities or undertakings should be submitted to DFO for review.
For additional information on this topic or any other water resources related topics please contact us
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