Important notice
January 2025 | Move your licence
If you are an individual or organization holding Water Act (or preceding Water Resources Act) licence(s) issued, renewed or amended before November 2021 by the Government of Alberta, you must move your water licence(s) into the Digital Regulatory Assurance System (DRAS).
Licences renewed and amended after November 2021 are already in DRAS and do not need to be moved.
Read 'Move my Licence: Water Act' on the DRAS page to learn more about how to move your water licence(s).
Overview
On June 21, 2021, Alberta’s government took a significant step towards streamlining its regulatory system with the new Digital Regulatory Assurance System (DRAS).
Water Act licence applications
Applications for all Water Act licences, including renewals and amendments, must be submitted through DRAS. Find out how to apply, amend and renew Water Act licences in DRAS in the knowledge articles.
For all Water Act licences issued, amended, or renewed in DRAS that require reporting, the licence holder must report water use data in DRAS.
Find out how to report water use data in DRAS in the How to Enter Water Use Reporting Data knowledge article.
WATERS is active for Alberta Energy Regulator applicants.
Forms and applications
Fillable PDF forms may not open properly on some mobile devices and web browsers. See the step-by-step guide or contact PDF form technical support.
- Application for Transfer of Water Allocation
- Application Plan
- Detail Site Plan
- Detail Site Plan (example)
- Dugout Plan
- Livestock Water Requirement Worksheet
- Livestock Water Source Calculation Chart
- List of Users Within a 1 Mile Radius of Water Source (PDF)
- List of Users Within a 1 Mile Radius of Water Source (DOC)
- Quarter Section Plan Related to Detail Site Plan
- Quarter Section Plan Related to Detail Site Plan (example)
- Water Act Licence Declaration
- Water Well Inventory List
Water reporting templates for DRAS
- Water Use Reporting Template for DRAS
- Water Level Reporting Template for DRAS
- Water Rate of Diversion Reporting Template for DRAS
- Water Return Reporting Template for DRAS
- Water Usage Meter Reporting Template for DRAS
- Water Bacteriological Reporting Template for DRAS
- Water Bacti Fecal Coliforms Reporting Template for DRAS
- Water Bacti Total Coliforms Reporting Template for DRAS
- Water Chemistry Detailed Reporting Template for DRAS
- Water Chemistry Routine Reporting Template for DRAS
Water Act Codes of Practice
Application plan examples
Agricultural
- Sustainable Canadian Agricultural Partnership
- Groundwater stockwatering sample plan
- Surface water feedlot sample plan
- Surface water stockwatering sample plan
Commercial
- Drainage sample plan
- Fish pond sample plan
- Golf course sample plan
- Washing sample plan
- Water bottling sample plan