Regulation respecting the charges payable for the use of water

The charges payable for the use of water apply to certain water users

The Regulation respecting the charges payable for the use of water came into force in 2011 and the rates of the charges were increased on January 1, 2024.

The Regulation covers the industries engaged in the following activities:

• the production of water in bottles or other containers, and the volume transportation of water for commercial purposes, whether or not the water is intended for human consumption;

• mining, quarrying and oil and gas extraction (NAICS 21);

• the manufacturing activities mentioned in the Schedule.

Such industries are covered for this year and all subsequent years when the total volumes of water that they use is equivalent to or greater than 75 000 litres per day on at least one day during the calendar year. This threshold will fall to 50 000 litres per day on January 1, 2026.

The water used can be withdrawn from a waterworks system or directly in the environment. For the purposes of this Regulation, any action for lowering or diverting groundwater is considered a use of water.

The charges payable for the use of water apply to certain water users

The rate of the charges payable for the use of water is $35 per million litres of water used for most production activities and $150 per million litres of water used for production activities that incorporate water into the product.

When the water is used for the production of water in bottles or other containers or for the volume transportation of water for commercial purposes, an additional rate of $350 per million litres of water used is added to the rate of $150 per million litres.

The charges payable for the use of water apply to certain water users

The funds collected through the water charges are paid to the Blue Fund (French) to partially fund any measure that the Minister adopts to protect, restore, develop, and manage water resources.