Surface Water Withdrawal Applications in Annapolis Valley
A pilot project has begun in the Annapolis Valley for the 2006 agricultural growing season. This project will focus on small, low-impact surface water withdrawals with the objective of creating an approval process that aims to minimize the cost and effort required to obtain an approval, while ensuring that the resource remains protected.
What is a surface water withdrawal?
Under the Environment Act, the Activities Designation Regulations (Division I) require a water withdrawal approval if you are withdrawing water from a watercourse (eg. pumping water from a stream for the purpose of irrigation) and the withdrawal exceeds 23,000 litres per day.
What is a watercourse?
Under the Environment Act, “the bed and shore of every river, stream, lake, creek, pond, spring, lagoon or other natural body of water, and the water therein” is considered a watercourse whether or not it contains water.
What is an offline pond?
An offline pond is a pond that is not connected to or receiving any water from a stream, brook, river, wetland, or other lake or pond.
When is a surface water withdrawal approval required?
- Will you be withdrawing or diverting more than 23,000 litres of surface water on one or more days per year?
- Will you be storing more than 25,000 cubic meters of water?
- Is the withdrawal from an offline pond fed or potentially fed by groundwater?
If you have answered yes to one or more of these questions, then you must obtain an approval to withdraw water (PDF: 178k). The steps that you need to take in order to apply for approval can be found under the section “Submitting an Application”.
Some of the terminology is new, what does it mean?
Nova Scotia Environment and Labour (NSEL) has reviewed its application process for small, low-impact surface water withdrawals. As a result of the changes made to the application process, new terminology has been introduced. The definitions provided within this section will assist you with completing your application.
What is meant by a “relatively small” withdrawal?
Your withdrawal is considered relatively small when it is less than 25% of the median flow of the stream. A Qualified Person will determine if your withdrawal meets this requirement.
Examples of a Qualified Person include persons who have a degree or degrees in the following:
- hydrology
- geology
- aquatic ecology
- limnology
- biology
- physical geography
- environmental science
- water resource management
- engineering
Another consideration in determining whether or not your withdrawal is relatively small is the location of nearby approved withdrawal sites. An approved withdrawal site located within 500m of the requested withdrawal site could affect the availability of water.
How do I determine the order of a stream?
Figure 1 will assist you in determining which order of stream you have.
- First-Order Stream: No other streams enter this stream.
- Second-Order Stream: Two or more first-order streams enter this stream.
- Third-Order Stream: Two or more second-order streams enter this stream.
Submitting an Application:
As a result of the changes made to the application process, there are now two steps involved in submitting an application to NSEL. These two steps are:
- Determine which category the application falls into (PDF: 28k).
- Determine what information you must provide with your application (PDF: 28k).
For More Information
The information above outlines the general requirements and information regarding surface water withdrawal. For more information contact Nova Scotia Environment and Labour at the Kentville Regional Office.
Western Region
126 Exhibition Street
Kentville, Nova Scotia
Canada B4N 4E5
Phone: (902) 679-6086
Fax: (902) 679-6186
