The Department of Environment is in the process of establishing a Registry of Water Rights. The Registry of Water Rights, once established, will be available online for inspection by the public for awareness of existing registered water users to ensure better water use planning and management and to avoid water use conflicts that may arise.

The Water Resources Act requires the notification and registration of all existing rights for the use or flow or diversion of water which were acquired under an Act, grant, lease, licence or other instrument before the commencement of this Act on May 22, 2002. The WRA also requires the registering of unauthorized uses or diversion of water. (Relevant sections of the Water Resources Act includes Sections 4, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14 and 95. The Act can be viewed online at http://www.assembly.nl.ca/legislation/sr/tableregulations/tableofregulations_w04-01.htm or an official version of the Act can be obtained from the Queen’s Printer.)

The Department of Environment asks the following of all water users of any water source (i.e. all water located in or derived from a body of water) who use the water for any beneficial purpose, except for domestic and non-commercial recreational purposes:

• All water users who, immediately before the commencement of the Water Resources Act, used or flowed or diverted water while not authorized by an Act of the province to make that use or flow or diversion shall, submit an application for a Water Use Licence with supporting documentation.
• All water users who hold valid “no objection letters” from the Department of Environment shall, submit an application for a Water Use Licence along with a copy of the “no objection letter”.
• All water users with expired Water Use Authorizations issued under the former Environment Act shall, submit an application for a new Water Use Licence under the Water Resources Act to ensure continuing water rights.
• All existing water users holding valid rights under an Act, grant, lease, licence or other instrument before the commencement of the Water Resources Act shall, register those rights with supporting documentation.
• All water users with valid Water Use Authorizations issued under the Environment Act with an expiry date on or after May 21, 2004:
  • Are considered to have been issued under the Water Resources Act:
  • Continue in force until May 21, 2004; and
  • Must be converted to a Water Use Licence under the Water Resources Act on or before May 21, 2004 or will cease to have effect.

All correspondence or inquiries on the process, should be addressed to:

Water Rights, Investigations, and Modelling Section
Water Resources Management Division
Department of Municipal Affairs and Environment
P.O. Box 8700
St. John’s, NL A1B 4J6
Email: waterinvestigations@gov.nl.ca

For additional information on this topic or any other water resources related topics please contact us