Activities that need a water licence
Most proposed activities (undertakings) in the Yukon that plan to use water or deposit waste to water are subject to a licensing process with the Yukon Water Board. Dependent on what activities are proposed, the undertaking may:
- need a water licence; or
- be permitted without a water licence, with the submission of a Schedule 3 form.
Variables that determine whether a water licence is required, include:
- amount of water to be used;
- indirect water use, i.e. watercourse crossing or training, flood control, diversions or alteration of flow or storage; and
- deposit of waste.
Click on the undertakings below for a description and link to applicable licensing criteria outlined in the Waters Regulation?
Description
Nourishing crops or the providing of water for livestock.
Licensing criteria
Schedule 10 (page 41), Waters Regulation
Description
Construction of works for the preservation, protection or improvement of the existing natural environment.
Licensing criteria
Schedule 10 (page 41), Waters Regulation
Description
Any industrial activity, other than placer or quartz mining, including manufacturing processes, hydrostatic testing, milling, fluming, the exploration for, and production and transportation of oil and gas, cooling systems, food processing, tanneries, smelters, sawmills, pulp mills, metal finishing and tailings reprocessing.
Licensing criteria
Schedule 5 (page 25), Waters Regulation
Description
Any activity:
-
In a city, town or village or in a settlement comprising a multiplicity of residential units, that uses only a municipal water and sewage system, including domestic, horticultural, fire protection, commercial or industrial activities;
-
In a camp or lodge.
Licensing criteria
Schedule 8 (page 35), Waters Regulation
Description
Placer mining within the meaning of subsection 2(1) of the Placer Mining Act.
Licensing criteria
Schedule 6 (page 29), Waters Regulation
Description
Authorized hydro or geothermal electrical generation of:
-
Class 0
150 or fewer kilowatts (kW) -
Class 1
More than 150 kW but less than 5,000 kW -
Class 2
5,000 or more kW but less than 10,000 kW -
Class 3
10,000 or more kW but less than 20,000 kW -
Class 4
20,000 or more kW but less than 50,000 kW -
Class 5
50,000 or more kW but less than 1000,000 kW -
Class 6
100,000 or more kilowatts
Licensing criteria
Schedule 9 (page 39), Waters Regulation
Description
Quartz mining within the meaning of the Quartz Mining Act.
Licensing criteria
Schedule 7 (page 31), Waters Regulation
Description of undertaking
A commercial or public recreational development.
Licensing criteria
Schedule 10 (page 41), Waters Regulation
Activities that don't need a water licence
You do not need to apply for a water licence or submit a Schedule 3 form if you are (see full definitions in the Waters Act):
- a domestic user (using water for household requirements, watering domestic animals or irrigating residential gardens which are not growing produce for market);
- an instream user (using water to earn income or for subsistence purposes without creating diversions or obstructions, altering the flow or altering bed or banks); and
- to extinguish a fire or, on an emergency basis, to control or prevent a flood.
If you are depositing sewage from a residential building, you must do so in accordance with the Sewage Disposal Systems Regulation, but you do not need a water licence.
Complete licensing requirements are set out in the Waters Act and Waters Regulation as well as in the Board’s Operation and Administration Manual.