Province Information - Newfoundland, Canada

The residents of Newfoundland and Labrador are primarily dependent on public water supplies for their domestic water needs. Approximately 83% of the province’s population receives water from public sources and 17% from private sources. Approximately 88% of the total serviced population use surface water and 12% use groundwater supplies. The majority of the population (70%) relies on water supplies that have been designated “Protected Water Supply Areas”. This province has established one of the strongest source protection programs in the country. Watershed management planning and the appointment of Watershed Monitoring Committees have been successful in addressing land use conflicts in water supply areas. Although there is no specific Provincial strategy for water conservation at this time, the province’s Water Resources Act contains enabling provisions for promoting water conservation/efficiency and the multi-use concept of water.
1. What provincial ministry, department or agencies are in charge of water conservation/efficiency?
Department of Environment and Conservation

The Water Resources Management Division of this Department is responsible for source protection and management, regulatory approvals for construction, operation and maintenance of public water systems, drinking water quality monitoring, and operator education and training. This Division is also responsible to administer various statutes as they relate to the allocation of water, stream alterations, licensing of well drillers, and other aspects of water resource management.  The Water Rights Section of this Department implements one of the most comprehensive water use allocation and granting of rights systems in Canada, e.g., there is no threshold for exempting any non-domestic water use from being regulated and monitored.  No water conservation programming or initiatives exist to date, with the exception of pilot studies on agricultural water conservation and efficiency measures including the installation of flowmeters.
2. Does the province require preparation of drought emergency plans by water utilities or cities on any prescribed schedule?

No.

Drought is not a major concern for Newfoundland and Labrador.

3. Does the province have a mandatory planning requirement for drinking water conservation separate from drought emergency plans?

No
Additional Information:

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

Additional Information:
The province’s Water Resources Act contains enabling provisions for promoting water conservation/efficiency and the multi-use concept of water.

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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:
Not Applicable.

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

Newfoundland and Labrador do not have a provincial-wide plumbing code.
7. Does the province regulate drinking water supplies and require conservation as part of its permitting process or water right permit?
Yes

The province has one of the most comprehensive water use allocation and granting of rights systems in Canada under the Water Resources Act – requiring a person to obtain a water use license for water taking for municipal, agricultural, commercial, institutional, or industrial purposes, for thermal power generation purposes, and for other purposes prescribed by regulation.  It also requires a permit to construct and operate a waterworks and source protection.

Municipalities Act, a municipal council may build and operate a public water supply system. Accordingly, it is the local government which has primary responsibility for the ownership, operation, and maintenance of these public water systems.

Health and Community Services Act and associated regulations govern private, commercial, and non-municipal water systems. A Certificate of Approval is required for these water supply systems. A Certificate of Approval is also required for private sewage disposal systems to ensure sewage disposal practices to not result in contamination of water and land.

Newfoundland does not require conservation as part of its permitting process or water right permit.

Water conservation is not a criteria for new water supply works permits or water use licenses under the Water Resources Act.  However, the Lieutenant-Governor in Council may establish, in accordance with regulations, economic measures such as incentives, royalties, subsidies, administrative and other fees, and water use charges for the purposes of ensuring the conservation and proper utilization of water resources, and for the financing of programs and other measures. The potential adverse effects of the proposed undertaking upon the environment and surface/groundwater conditions in the area in relation to the present and future water uses are taken into consideration in granting a license. To date, no reference to water conservation exists within the design guidelines for water and sewerage systems and no regulations requiring water conservation exist.


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

Drinking Water?

No

Waste Water?

No

Additional Information:

No, with the exception of metering.

The Canada-Newfoundland and Labrador Water Supply Expansion Agreement funded two studies on agricultural water conservation and efficiency measures including the installation of flowmeters.  Those studies aimed at setting the stage for water use monitoring and reporting that will lead to the developments of performance indicators. 

Department of Municipal and Provincial Affairs - The department is responsible for the
administration of the Capital Works Program to provide funding for new public water system infrastructure, as well as funding to assist with the expansion or upgrade and repair of existing infrastructure.

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.

The GMF 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 it 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 $130 toilet rebates ($65 from Newfoundland and Labrador and $65 from the Federal government through the EnerGuide for Houses grant program). To qualify for the grant, you must complete an EnerGuide for Houses pre-retrofit and post-retrofit evaluation.

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

Yes.

A pilot program on agricultural metering, initiated through the Department of Environment and Conservation, was completed on 60 farms.

11. Does the province provide provincial ET microclimate information?
No.
12. Does the province have a water conservation and efficiency strategy?
No


Additional Information:

13. Does the province have standards for alternative water sources?
No



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