Province Information - New Brunswick, Canada

Approximately 40% of New Brunswick’s population receive their water from surface water sources; the remaining 60% from groundwater sources. A significant portion of the rural population relies on private, individual wells. Much of the province’s population is centralized within the urban centres of Moncton, Saint John, and Fredericton where water is supplied through a combination of surface water dams, reservoirs, and groundwater. Moncton is the fastest-growing metropolitan area in the province and among the top ten fastest growing urban areas in Canada. The province places a strong emphasis on source water protection, however, no provincial strategy for water conservation exists at this time.
1. What provincial ministry, department or agencies are in charge of water conservation/efficiency?
2. Does the province require preparation of drought emergency plans by water utilities or cities on any prescribed schedule?
No.
3. Does the province have a mandatory planning requirement for drinking water conservation separate from drought emergency plans?

No
Additional Information:

Related Links:
4. Does the province require implementation of conservation measures as well as preparation of plans?
No

Additional Information:

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5. Does the province have the authority to approve or reject the conservation plans?

plan completeness?

No

satisfactory content?

No

Additional Information:

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6. Does the province have minimum water efficiency standards more stringent than federal or national requirements?
No

The 2005 National Plumbing Code has been adopted into law by the New Brunswick Plumbing Installation and Inspection Act, and accompanying regulations.

The National Building Code of Canada is the model building code of Canada. It is issued by the Institute for Research and Construction (IRC), a part of the National Research Council of Canada. As a model code, it has no legal status until it is adopted by a jurisdiction that regulates construction. The Provinces and Territories of Canada are allowed to adopt parts or all of the code and to alter the code as they see fit.

The National Building Code is currently undergoing revisions and a proposal was made in 2008 to update the Non-potable Water Systems section 2.7.4 to include design requirements in accordance with CSA B128.1 and to limit use of non-potable water to water closets, urinals, and directly connected underground irrigation systems.

As of 2005 the National Plumbing Code does not explicitly mandate the use of water efficient fixtures – instead it references the ASME A112.18.1-2005 / CSA B125.1-2005 standards which dictate maximum flush volumes for toilets of 13.2 litres, maximum flow rates of 8.3 litres per minute (Lpm) for lavatory and kitchen faucets, and 9.5 Lpm for showerheads. The National Plumbing Code currently allows non-potable sources to be used with dual plumbing systems within the home for fixtures other than sinks and faucets, and rainwater to be used for underground irrigation.

7. Does the province regulate drinking water supplies and require conservation as part of its permitting process or water right permit?
Yes

There is no clear permitting process for water taking at this time, however new water supplies involving the extraction or withdrawal of groundwater or surface water at a rate greater than 50 cubic metres per day are subject to a water supply source assessment process. In addition, selected high-volume water users (mostly industries) are subject to water quantity monitoring by the province via conditions attached to their approvals to operate.

Environmental Impact Assessment Regulation – requires that all waterworks with a capacity of greater than 50 cubic metres per day be registered for review with the Department of Environment.

Clean Environment Act, Water Quality Regulation – requires approvals for waterworks and sewage works to be renewed every 5 years. Under the Water Quality Regulation of the Clean Environment Act, all waterworks in the Province of New Brunswick using greater than 50 cubic meters of water daily require a permit to operate except in the case of a domestic well not connected to a distribution system. Approvals include conditions prescribing performance standards, required operator training, and required adherence to monitoring and reporting protocols. An annual Approval Compliance Evaluation is conducted for each system.

Health Act – requires the Minister's certificate of approval of the plans and specifications for operating a waterworks.

Clean Water Act - requires a license for well drilling, and any project or structure that alters a watercourse. It also stipulates testing requirements for well owners and public water supplies, enables a Ministerial order to install a wastewater treatment plants, restricts release of contaminants into water, requires public water supplies to prevent health risks to the public, establishes a Potable Water Advisory Committee that makes recommendations to the Minister of Health and the Minister of the Environment, and enables designation orders as outlined below.

Potable Water Regulation – requires testing of all newly drilled well water, sampling plans, etc.

Watershed & Wellfield Protected Area Designation Orders - These Orders prohibit and/or limit activities and facilities such as septic tanks, sewers, chemicals, motorized watercrafts , fishing and forestry, and industrial and agricultural practices within a drinking water supply watershed or wellfield that is protected through designation by the Minister. A policy is in place requiring that the owners of all new municipal production wells request wellfield protection designation within one year of bringing the well on-line.

Conservation is not required a part of the permitting process in New Brunswick.


8. Does the province support water conservation under its Drinking Water or Wastewater infrastructure funding programs?

Drinking Water?

No

Waste Water?

No

Additional Information:

The only exception is for metering.

Water and Wastewater Commissions in New Brunswick are eligible to secure funds for capital expenditures through the provincial Municipal Capital Borrowing Act, however the funds must be used for a tangible capital asset and water conservation is not explicitly funded.

Canada does not have a revolving fund for infrastructure loans. Federally, the Green Municipal Fund (GMF) administered by the Federation of Canadian Municipalities (FCM) provides grants for up to 50% of project costs, or below-market, low interest loans of up to 80% of project costs. FCM is an advocacy organization; however the Government of Canada endowed the Federation of Canadian Municipalities (FCM) with $550 million to establish the GMF program.

TheGMF funds municipal projects and studies which have included feasibility studies of water conservation programs, water distribution system leak detection and control projects, plumbing retrofit programs, wastewater recycling, and sustainable community plans involving water conservation. At this time, the funding focus for capital projects is on wastewater, while sustainable community plans, conservation-related studies, and field tests continue to be eligible.

The Building Canada plan is the primary mechanism in Canada for funding water and wastewater infrastructure, and encompasses a number of funds including provincial and municipal base funding, gas tax funds, and the Building Canada fund. Over half of the funding under the Building Canada plan is provided as base funding to municipalities, and the funds are generally administered by the provinces. The Building Canada fund promotes long-term funding of water infrastructure projects, including projects designed to improve conservation of water. Funding focuses on improved treatment standards that emphasize the protection of human health. The projects are required to be supported by measures that improve the management of sources of drinking water, reduce demand, and improve the management of drinking water infrastructure.
All projects are cost shared, generally in equal thirds between federal/provincial/municipal governments. The Building Canada fund operates through two components: the Major Infrastructure Component (MIC) that targets large strategic projects of national and regional significance, and the Communities Component that focuses on projects in communities with populations of less than 100,000.

To date, funded projects have focused on centralized infrastructure as opposed to conservation efforts, with the exception of metering. Capital cost funding projects must result in a tangible capital asset. Planning costs are also eligible, which could potentially support the development of water conservation plans.


9. Does the province offer other financial assistance? Environmental grants? Rebates? Tax Exemptions?

Yes.

The province offers funding to selected projects initiated by community groups, municipalities, non-profit organizations, and institutions via itsEnvironmental Trust Fund (ETF), administered by the Department of Environment. Six categories of projects are eligible including conservation projects. These are defined as projects that contribute to New Brunswick's environmental quality by conserving or promoting the conservation of natural resources, and developing strategies and taking actions to conserve natural and man-made materials.

10. Does the province offer direct or indirect technical assistance to the public?

Yes.

Water level reporting - each month the Sciences and Reporting Branch of the Department of Environment prepares a summary of the state of water levels in the province based on precipitation and stream flow data for the previous 6 months. Information is provided regarding how much rain and snow fell (precipitation), the volume of water flowing in rivers and streams (stream flow), and water levels in selected wells used to keep track of groundwater. The information in each report is compared to long-term averages.

11. Does the province provide provincial ET microclimate information?
No.

Related Links:

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12. Does the province have a water conservation and efficiency strategy?
No


Additional Information:
No, but not-potable water is permitted for toilet flushing through the plumbing code.

13. Does the province have standards for alternative water sources?



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