Water Licences

Licences for the use of water and deposit of waste in waters flowing through or overlying lands within the Mackenzie Valley are issued by the respective Land and Water Board (Board) operating under the Mackenzie Valley Resource Management Act (MVRMA).  Acting under the authority of the MVRMA, the Northwest Territories Waters Act (NWTWA), and the framework set out in the Northwest Territories Water Regulations (NWTWR), the Board may issue, amend, renew, suspend or cancel water licences.

Some of the activities that require a Water Licence are:

  • 100 m3 or more of direct water use per day;
  • A municipality or camp that uses more than 50 m3 of water per day;
  • Construction of a structure across a water course five or more metres wide at ordinary high water mark;
  • Channel and bank alterations, erosion control, diversion of water, alteration of flow or storage of water (dam or storage reservoir);
  • Draining or infilling of a water course;
  • Any deposit of waste (solid waste, sewage, oil drilling etc.); and
  • Industrial or mining and milling activities that use more than 100 m3 of water per day.

The fee for application, renewal, or amendment for a water licence is $30.00.