Permits and Approvals Overview

Find your activity or business in the links below:

• Draining water
• Developing near water
• Providing water or wastewater services
• Using pesticides or chemicals near water
• Using, taking, storing or hauling water
• Developing near one of seven reservoirs owned by the Water Security Agency

Please note: the advice on this page applies only to the regulatory requirements of the Water Security Agency. Other federal, provincial, or municipal agencies or departments may have other requirements you will need to meet before work can begin.

This information on this page is also available as a Fact Sheet: Introduction to Water Regulations

If you are;

• Draining water off a legal parcel of land
• Draining into a Conservation and Development Authority (C&D)
• Deepening or straightening a creek

Then you may need;

• Drainage Approval. Please visit Agricultural Drainage for more information and fact sheets about drainage. All drainage needs approval. No existing drainage is grandfathered. Qualified persons are available to help you with the legal and technical work of drainage approvals.
• Aquatic Habitat Protection Permit. Please see Aquatic Habitat Protection for complete information.

If you are;

• Constructing a bridge or culvert across water
• Building a boat launch or marina
• Changing the bank of a lake, river, or creek
• Adding material to the bank, including rock, sand or gravel
• Removing vegetation in, or near, water
• Channel clearing

Then you may need an Aquatic Habitat Protection Permit. See Aquatic Habitat Protection for complete information, fact sheets, application form and information about when you do NOT need a permit.

If you are building a permanent water intake, you may need;

• Aquatic Habitat Protection Permit. Please see Aquatic Habitat Protection for complete information.
• Water Rights Licence; Approval to Construct and Operate Surface Water Works – see Surface Water Approval Process as well as the Application for Water Rights Licence and Approval to Construct and Operate Works (RG-103).

If you are constructing or operating a water or wastewater treatment plant, or a water distribution system or pipeline, then you may need;

• Water Rights Licence; Approval to Construct and Operate Surface Water Works – the Application for Water Rights Licence and Approval to Construct and Operate Works (RG-103) explains the process and regulatory requirements.
• Permit for Construction of Waterworks or Sewage Works
• Permit to Operate a Waterworks
• Permit to Operate a Wastewater Works
• Permit to Operate a Sewage Works
  • For information about requirements for constructing drinking water infrastructure, as well as sewage works or wastewater works infrastructure, please visit Saskatchewan.ca

If you are septic hauling – you may need a Permit to Transport and Dispose of Liquid Domestic Sewage.

If you are controlling;

• Aquatic vegetation in lakes, rivers, creeks, or canals
• Right of way vegetation
• Forestry pests

Then you may need a Permit to Apply a Pesticide and/or Chemical In or Near Surface Water. See A Guide to Aquatic Nuisances and Their Control.

If you are using water from a lake, river or creek for industry, agriculture, municipalities, multi-user projects, etc. then you may need:

• Water Rights Licence; Approval to Construct and Operate Surface Water Works. Surface Water Approval Process and our Application for Water Rights Licence and Approval to Construct and Operate Works (RG-103) explains the process and regulatory requirements.
• Aquatic Habitat Protection Permit if you are constructing a permanent water intake. See Aquatic Habitat Protection for complete information.
• Temporary Water Rights Licence for Industrial Water Use. You can apply for and purchase this licence at products.wsask.ca.

Domestic Purpose Water Use explains when you do NOT need a Water Rights Licence and/or Approval.

If you are using well water for industry, agriculture, municipalities, businesses, multi-user projects, etc. then you may need:

• Ground Water Investigation Permit. See Groundwater Approval Process and Groundwater Investigation Permit Application Form (RG-122).
• Water Rights Licence, as well as Approval to Construct and Approval to Operate Works. See Application for Water Rights Licence and Approval to Construct and Operate Works (RG 103).
• Temporary Water Rights Licence for Industrial Use. You can apply for and purchase this licence at products.wsask.ca.

If you are digging a dugout, then you may need:

• Aquatic Habitat Protection Permit if the dugout is in a creek bed. See Aquatic Habitat Protection for complete information.
• Approval to Construct and Operate Surface Water Works if the dugout is for non-domestic purposes or has a capacity larger than five cubic decameters – for example, 200 feet long and 100 feet and 14 feet deep with 3H:1V end slopes and 1.5H:1V side slopes. Surface Water Approval Process and our Application for Water Rights Licence and Approval to Construct and Operate Works (RG-103) explains the process and regulatory requirements.
• A Water Rights Licence is required for all non-domestic use or where domestic use exceeds five cubic decameters.

Domestic Purpose Water Use explains when you do NOT need a Water Rights Licence and/or Approval.

If you are building a dam, then you may need:

• Approval to Construct and Operate Surface Water Works. Surface Water Approval Process and our Application for Water Rights Licence and Approval to Construct and Operate Works (RG-103) explains the process and regulatory requirements.
• Aquatic Habitat Protection Permit. See Aquatic Habitat Protection for complete information.

If you are drilling a well, then you may need:

• A qualified consultant for assistance.
• Ground Water Investigation Permit; Approval to Construct and Operate Ground Works. See Ground Water Approval Process for more information.
• A company with a registered drilling rig to do the work. You can find a list of registered rigs here.
• Well information from neighbouring wells. See our water wells GIS site: gis.wsask.ca.

If you are developing or constructing a new RM tank fill, then you may need a Water Rights Licence and Approval to Construct and Operate Works. The Application for Water Rights Licence and Approval to Construct and Operate Works (RG-103) explains the process and regulatory requirements.

If you are hauling water to a rig or oilfield, then your customer will need a Temporary Water Rights Licence for Industrial Water Use.

If you are hauling water commercially for domestic use, please contact the Saskatchewan Health Authority for more information.

You will need a Reservoir Development Permit if you are planning development near one of these seven reservoirs:

• Avonlea Creek
• Blackstrap
• Bradwell
• Brightwater
• Dellwood
• Lake Diefenbaker
• Zelma

Development includes:

• subdivision of land
• sale of Crown land
• constructing a house, shop or cottage, or a public facility like a boat launch or marina.

Go to Reservoir Development Area for more information.