See below for amendments to the Water (Ministerial) Regulation regarding exemptions from requiring a Water Act licence or approval that are effective from January 13, 2026. The changes follow from the water availability engagement.
The Government of Alberta has expanded some existing exemptions and added new exemptions for low risk activities, namely:
- Expansions / changes to existing exemptions:
- Increased quantity and/or size limits for existing exemptions for dugouts, stormwater ponds, wetland construction, and temporary camps.
- A definition of dugout has been added to the regulation, specifying the intended agricultural purpose of dugouts. This clarifies and reinforces that to qualify for the exemption, the purpose of the storage and use of the water must be for agricultural purposes. This means the exemption is for agricultural purposes only, and that a licence is required (and in some areas a water transfer) to use dugouts for purposes other than agriculture.
- New exemptions:
- Exemptions established for emergency preparedness, bridge and sign washing, dust control, and Green Area borrow pits on public lands.
Information on the changes are available online, including:
- News release at: New rules boost water storage and conservation | alberta.ca
- Ministerial Order (Effective January 13, 2026) at: M.O. 26/2025 – Environment and Protected Areas
- Water (Ministerial) Regulation at: Alberta King’s Printer
- These are additional to regulation amendments to exempt riparian restoration watering announced in July – Freedom to water | alberta.ca
