Updated September 2026
Groundwater Protection Regulation and well permit rules
Nanaimo Well Drilling builds your well in accordance with the Groundwater Protection Regulation in British Columbia. We check if a local well permit applies to your property before a registered well driller begins work. We install surface seals at least 5 m long and set casing 0.3 m above ground level. We attach a well identification plate and submit construction reports to GWELLS within 90 days.
Updated September 2026
These safety rules are mandatory, and most of the completed work sits buried once the rig leaves. That's why the paperwork matters — once we've packed up, it's the only proof that the parts you can't see were built to the standard.
The Groundwater Protection Regulation under the Water Sustainability Act sets rules for drilling, maintaining, altering, and closing wells in BC.
For the work these rules apply to, see what a compliant new well involves.
What law governs your well?
Groundwater rules in British Columbia fall under the Water Sustainability Act, which took effect in 2016. Specific construction details sit in the Groundwater Protection Regulation, applying to every private well owner. Drilling, altering, pump fitting, disinfecting, and closing wells are restricted activities under provincial law.
Who's allowed to work on your well?
Provincial registration is maintained through the Deputy Comptroller of Water Rights on the register of well drillers and pump installers. The table below sets out who may do what. The short version: a drilled well is not homeowner work, and neither is a pump.
| Work | Who may do it |
|---|---|
| Drilled well construction | A registered well driller, or under one's supervision |
| Excavated well, 15 m or less | Anyone, if every requirement of the regulation is met |
| Well pump installation and testing | A registered well pump installer or a registered well driller |
| Decommissioning a flowing artesian well | A registered well driller with demonstrated competency |
| Pumping test where one is required | Performed or directly supervised by a professional competent in hydrogeology |
How does the Province say your well must be built?
Provincial rules set clear, measurable standards for every well we drill. The table further down lists the published figures. The surface seal, the casing height and the cap all exist for one reason: to keep surface water and everything it carries out of your aquifer. We treat all three as requirements, not finishing touches, because skipping any one of them can let contamination into the well.
| Requirement | Figure | Applies to |
|---|---|---|
| Surface seal length | At least 5 m | Water supply wells |
| Surface seal thickness | At least 2.54 cm | Annular space |
| Casing above ground | At least 0.3 m | Production casing |
| New well to an existing water supply well | 15 m | Siting |
| Sewerage system to a domestic water well | 30 m | Siting |
| Construction, alteration or decommissioning report | Within 90 days | All wells |
| Out of service before decommissioning is required | 5 years | All wells |
| Closure plug on decommissioning | At least 5 m | Water supply wells |
Ministry of Health rules require 30 m separation from septic systems filed on or after 25 June 2010, while other setbacks sit in the Groundwater Protection Regulation. We verify exact setback distances for your specific lot before starting work.
What paperwork will you end up with?
When finished drilling, we attach an ID plate from the comptroller so the number shows clearly. We file your construction report with British Columbia within 90 days to enter GWELLS public records. We submit official reports for well alterations and decommissioning following the same provincial procedure. A well with clear GWELLS records gives buyers, lenders, and regional officials proof of proper construction.
Do you need a licence, and when must a well close?
Private domestic water use for your household, garden, and livestock remains exempt from provincial licensing fees. Commercial water use requires a water licence, and registration for existing users closed on 1 March 2022. A well deactivated for 5 years or unused for 10 years with no plan to reuse it must be decommissioned with a closure plug at least 5 m long.
What gets reported about your well, and when?
- 1
We finish drilling — once drilling completes, we attach your official well identification plate so the number remains plainly visible.
- 2
We disinfect the well — we disinfect your well after construction, alteration, redevelopment, or rehabilitation work.
- 3
We file the construction report — with the Province, within 90 days.
- 4
Your record goes public — into GWELLS, where anyone can look it up afterwards.
Related: pump systems, what drives the cost of a water well, and water wells in Nanoose Bay.
You won't see the plate, the seal or the report once the job is done, but a buyer or a lender will ask for them later. To have the reporting handled from the start, book a site assessment.