Are you the owner of a non-domestic groundwater well that was in use prior to March 2016? If so, you are legally required by the BC WSA to apply for an Existing Groundwater Use Licence by the submission deadline. If you submit an Existing Use Licence application on or before the deadline you will be in compliance with the WSA and your water licence application fee will be waived, which could save you $250 to $10,000 per application. If you wait to apply until after March 1, 2022 you will be treated as a new applicant, which means you will lose your 'date of precedence' on the use of non-domestic groundwater and you will be required to pay application fees. Still needing to apply for a groundwater use licence for your wells? Not sure if you even need to apply for a licence? Wondering if you need an Existing Use or New Use Licence? Waterline offers WSA licensing services. Visit our WSA Licensing Page or contact us for more information. For more information on how Waterline can help, please contact our water sustainability coordinator Steph Righi at srighi@waterlineresources.com.

Waterline would like to wish a happy international women's day to all of the amazing women out there working hard everyday. You all make a world of difference, Thanks.

The second step of a water supply integrity program is to complete baseline testing on the active domestic use water sources identified during the water source inventory. The testing will document the baseline water quality and quantity, where applicable, for the water sources on the reserve. Communal domestic water supply sources typically have sufficient data from historical testing and sampling programs, and therefore the water supply integrity issues are likely to have already been identified and addressed. Therefore, the water supply integrity program focuses on the private water systems, primarily water wells, within the community that are not routinely tested or maintained. For each private water supply well, a baseline yield test is conducted to document the drawdown of the groundwater level in the well in response to pumping at a sustained constant rate for 60 minutes. A flow-control valve is used to maintain a constant pumping rate and, if the well is accessible, a pressure transducer with datalogger is installed into the well to regularly monitor the groundwater level response to pumping. Once the pump is shut off, the recovery of the water level is monitored for an additional 60 minutes or until 90% recovery of the pre-pumping water level. The data collected, provides a baseline to which future issues regarding groundwater quantity, such as impacts from adjacent water usage, can be compared. During the baseline yield test, untreated groundwater is monitored periodically for electrical conductivity (EC), pH, and temperature at a sampling point upstream of any water treatment system. Groundwater may be flowed through a gas separator to test for the presence of free gas, and observations such as water colour, odour, clarity and the presence of sediment will be recorded. Near the end of the pumping portion of the baseline yield test, Waterline will collect water samples for analytical testing of general chemistry and microbiological parameters following standard quality assurance procedures. Other specific parameters identified in consultation with the First Nations community may also be included in the analytical program. In addition to sampling water supply wells, Waterline will collect water samples from other identified domestic water sources, such as springs, creeks, or storage tanks during the baseline testing program. Where feasible, Waterline will also collect water quantity data for these sources, such as flow rates or tank size. Water samples will also be collected from surface waterbodies, such as creeks, rivers or lakes, that are located near domestic water supply wells to classify chemical types and identify any potential surface water-groundwater interaction. The baseline testing results are used to: Identify any existing water supply integrity issues with respect to quality or quantity; Make recommendations to the community regarding water supply system maintenance or treatment; and Provide a benchmark to which future changes in water supply quality or quantity can be assessed. Data management and ongoing testing and maintenance are essential for ensuring the water supply integrity into the future. Details regarding ongoing testing, maintenance and data management programs are presented in a separate video. For more information on how Waterline can help, please contact our water source integrity program coordinator Brent Morin at bmorin@waterlineresources.com.

Clean and safe drinking water is a necessity of life. Most Canadians expect to have access to safe drinking water. On First Nation communities this expectation is not always realized. The safety of public water systems on First Nation reserves is the responsibility of the Federal Government. The Federal Government has in place funding programs focusing on the integrity of communal water supplies, but these supplies often do not service all households on the reserve. Many households are serviced by private water wells that get overlooked and are not routinely tested or maintained, putting the users at potential health risk. Waterline Resources has developed a water supply integrity program for First Nation communities that is designed to address health-based concerns related to domestic use water sources, including private water wells. The water supply integrity program starts with the identification of all water sources used for domestic purposes on the reserve. Waterline then conducts a baseline assessment program by inspecting and testing water sources for integrity, water quality and, in some cases, water quantity issues. During this process, Waterline provides training to selected community members on the assessment procedures so that the community members are able to complete the tasks themselves during future assessments. The results of the baseline assessment program are provided to the users to inform them of any water source issues, the suitability of the water supply, and how to maintain the source into the future. The program promotes routine maintenance to ensure source integrity and testing to confirm suitability of the water supply over time. Community members are trained how to identify water source issues, address the identified issues, and determine when additional support may be required. A water supply integrity program benefits the First Nation community by securing their water resources and ensuring the integrity of each water supply for the health of all community members at present and into the future.

The first step in initiating a water supply integrity program is to identify all the water sources used for domestic purposes on the reserve. Potential sources may include water wells, storage tanks, springs, creeks, rivers, and lakes. Waterline starts by completing a desktop review of the publicly available data to compile a preliminary list of potential water sources on the reserve. This may include a review of water well driller’s reports, groundwater diversion licences, and surface water diversion licences. The list of potential water sources is then provided to the community to verify the status of each and confirm their location, if they still exist. In addition, the community will identify any additional sources of water that are being used for domestic purposes. After all the domestic use water sources have been identified, Waterline then schedules a site visit to inspect each water source and complete an assessment of water source status to document any known water quality and quantity issues. During the site visit a visual inspection of the infrastructure and the area surrounding the water source is conducted so that integrity issues can be identified. At each location, information collected includes: • Historical importance; • Water use and quantities required; • Well completion details, if applicable; • Information about the pump and associated distribution system; • Information about water treatment and water source maintenance; • Comments regarding quality and quantity of the water source; • Data from historical testing or sampling programs; and • Potential sources of contaminants in the water source area. During the inspection Waterline photographs the water source and any related features within the surrounding area. GPS coordinates are collected for each water source and associated features. Waterline uses the data gathered during the site visit to identify any potential concerns associated with each water source. Water sources are then prioritized for further quantity and quality testing as part of a baseline testing program. Details of the baseline testing program are presented in a separate video. For more information on how Waterline can help, please contact our water source integrity program coordinator Brent Morin at bmorin@waterlineresources.com.

Waterline outlines how British Columbia’s Water Sustainability Act (WSA), impacts mines in BC. Information in this video is based on the BC provincial government's Information Update for the diversion and use of water at a mine under the WSA: https://www2.gov.bc.ca/assets/gov/env...​ The provincial government has a guidance document that informs applicants about whether a technical assessment is required to support their new use groundwater licence application, and if so, the appropriate level of detail required: http://a100.gov.bc.ca/appsdata/acat/d...​ Waterline can help mines with the requirements of the technical assessment including desktop based studies and specific field-based testing procedures. Waterline recommends considering the WSA authorization requirements as early as possible. Proposed mine projects that have not yet commenced review under the Mines Act or Environmental Management Act, or are in the early stages of the review process, will need to address the WSA requirements during the review and permitting processes, including any applications for a water licence or use approval that are necessary. Call or email us today to chat about how we can help you with your groundwater authorization applications. Water Sustainability Coordinator: 250-585-0802 srighi@waterlineresources.com

Alberta Environment and Parks just released an update to the Master Schedule of Standards and Conditions (MSSC), which formalize the requirements for construction activities on public lands. A key update is the requirement to follow the Wildlife Sweep Protocols, which includes retaining a competent wildlife practitioner to complete a sweep of the disturbance area plus a 100 m surrounding area for wildlife habitat. Hiring a competent wildlife practitioner to complete a Wildlife Sweep is the responsibility of the Disposition/Permit Holder. If an important wildlife feature is disturbed or destroyed because the sweep was inadequate or was not completed at all, an investigation and enforcement under the Wildlife Act or Public Lands Act could occur. Depending on the area or the nature of the disruption to wildlife, federal regulations may also apply. Waterline recommends engaging with a Professional or Technologist registered with the Alberta Society of Professional Biologists (ASPB) or the Alberta Institute of Agrology (AIA) to ensure appropriate precautions and mitigations are in place for the planned construction activity. For more information on how Waterline can help, contact our in-house biologist, Collen Middleton at cmiddleton@waterlineresources.com.

At Waterline, we offer specialist services in the biophysical technical disciplines, environmental due diligence and compliance. Our senior practitioners lead project teams of natural scientists and draw on our strong network of trusted subconsultants to deliver cost effective, technically excellent solutions. Reclamation, Conservation and Closure Planning: Waterline conducts reclamation, conservation and closure planning regulatory applications, and mine reclamation security liability assessment in British Columbia and Alberta. Our expertise also includes materials volume estimates, closure landform design, post-closure end land use planning, planting prescriptions, and project management. Soil and Reclamation Assessment: Waterline has specialist expertise in soil science and small to large scale postconstruction reclamation assessment (PCRA) throughout western Canada. Our expertise includes soil quality assessment for forestry, agriculture, recreation and urban developments, as well as soil erosion assessment using the Revised Universal Soil Loss Equation (RUSLE) and determination of soil water characteristics. Our team conducts soil and terrain baseline inventories, environmental impact assessments, and reclamation certificate applications, and subject mater expert services. Wetlands: Waterline's biophysical services include wetland impact assessment reports (WAIR) and associated Wetland Policy filings under the Alberta Water Act and Public Lands Act. Waterline works with its clients to wetland replacement proposals and calculate the wetland replacement cost liability for their projects. Construction Environmental Monitoring: Waterline, in collaboration with its trusted network of subconsultant environmental monitors and inspectors, performs on-site monitoring services for in-stream hydrology and watercourse crossing assessment, turbidity monitoring during construction, soil conservation (soil salvage and replacement) monitoring, and wildlife/breeding bird behavior monitoring during construction. Our senior soil and reclamation scientist, Collen Middleton (P.Biol, RT (Ag)) has over 15 years of experience in soil science, environmental impact assessments (EIAs), construction environmental monitoring, wetlands, regulatory approvals and compliance

Water wells have a life cycle and they require maintenance similar to most industrial equipment. Performance monitoring can help detect the early signs of well deterioration. A well-specific maintenance plan will address these issues before they become critical. For wells that have not been appropriately maintained, Waterline provides rehabilitation services. Waterline staff routinely help our clients extend the operational lifespan of their wells and reduce operating costs. Performance Monitoring Well Water Levels and Flow Rates: The pumping capacity of a well may decline over time as the well ages and the screen becomes plugged by sediment, mineral precipitate, or bacteria. Waterline can help identify declining well capacity by evaluating pumping levels, flow rates, and water quality over time. Water Quality: The water chemistry in a well system should remain relatively stable. Monitoring key water quality parameters allows Waterline to identify changes occurring in the system that increase the potential for minerals to precipitate and plug the well screen, filter pack, and aquifer. Well Maintenance & Rehabilitation Downhole Camera Surveys: A quick method to assess downhole well conditions and determine if rehabilitation is required. Mechanical Rehabilitation: Designed to remove fines, mineral scale, or biofilms near the borehole so water flows more freely to the well. Methods include brushing, surging, jetting, gas impulse and over-pumping. Chemical Rehabilitation: Approved chemicals used in combination with mechanical methods to break down minerals and biofilms behind the well screen and into the formation.

Bonnie Derkson, Blake Hiebert, and Brent Morin from our technical teams will be presenting at this year's virtual Geoconvention. Brent Morin will present "Database Utilization to manage and maintain the integrity of rural water supplies" Monday September 21, 1:50 - 2:15. Bonnie Derksen will present "Shallow groundwater Characterization and contamination management in a rural setting: What to do" Monday September 21, 3:45 - 4:10 Blake Hiebert will present "Hydrogeologic considerations of low impact developement" Tuesday September 22, 11:25 - 11:50 All of the presentations can be found on demand at https://geoconvention.com/2020-technical-program-oral-presentations/ Follow the link for more details on their talks

Waterline is excited to announce the opening of our new field office in Salmon Arm, which will help to better serve our clients in Interior BC. Call us at 1-844-585-0802 to learn more.

A considerable number of Waterline’s clients use our monitoring and sampling expertise to fulfill regulatory monitoring obligations. Waterline has coordinated and completed over a thousand environmental monitoring programs to meet site regulatory compliance objectives over twenty years of operation. Expertise Groundwater Level Monitoring: Waterline routinely installs and collects data using a wide range of groundwater level and monitoring equipment. Groundwater Sampling: Waterline uses a variety of sampling methods, including low-flow sampling techniques with peristaltic or submersible pumps. Surface Water Sampling: Waterline conducts surface water sampling programs for regulatory compliance and reporting and to assess groundwater - surface water interactions. Quality Assurance Quality Control: Data collected from field programs must be of high quality to allow for defensible and meaningful interpretations. Waterline’s sampling protocols conform to the most stringent regulatory QA/QC requirements in British Columbia and Alberta. Database Management: All monitoring and sampling data is stored in our proprietary web-based database EnviroWeb Services (EWS). Our system allows for easy online access to all of your project data, and provides the assurance that the data is retained an accessible location.