> ## Content Index
> Fetch the complete content index at: https://bcgroundwaterwire.ca/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover other available public pages before exploring further.

# BC Water Sustainability Act Penalties Take Effect: Up to $500,000
- URL: https://bcgroundwaterwire.ca/changelog/administrative-monetary-penalties/
- Published: 2024-01-12T19:00:00.000Z
- Updated: 2026-10-09T02:30:20.000Z
- Description: The Province can impose penalties of up to $100,000 for most listed contraventions of the Water Sustainability Act, and up to $500,000 for some.
- Author: Colleen Roberts
- Tags: In Force, Changelog, Compliance and Enforcement, Province-wide, #who-farm, #who-business, #who-lender, #who-trades

British Columbia's Administrative Penalties (Water Sustainability Act) Regulation (B.C. Reg. 1/2024) took effect, setting the maximum administrative monetary penalties the Province can impose under the Water Sustainability Act.  
  
Most listed contraventions, including diverting or using water without an authorization, carry up to $100,000; a shorter list of contraventions, and failing to comply with certain orders, carry up to $500,000\. Listed contraventions of the Groundwater Protection Regulation carry up to $100,000\. If a contravention continues for more than one day, a separate penalty may be imposed for each day. These are maximums, not automatic fines.

**Who it affects:** Water users and the well and pump trades, including anyone using groundwater for non-domestic purposes without the required authorization.

**What hasn’t changed:** Licensing requirements and exemptions are the same as before. The regulation adds an enforcement tool; it doesn’t create a new licence requirement.

**Source:** [Administrative Penalties (Water Sustainability Act) Regulation, B.C. Reg. 1/2024](https://www.bclaws.gov.bc.ca/civix/document/id/complete/statreg/1%5F2024?ref=bcgroundwaterwire.ca) · checked October 2, 2026

**Updates:** None yet.