environment officials are mulling whether to create a water-use buffer given that farmers will be able to apply to construct more high-capacity wells under the province's impending irrigation strategy. Currently, regulations allow groundwater wells to draw down a waterway by 35 per cent of a stream's base flow in August and September. "In the act, there is the ability for the minister to reserve water for particular reasons — good planning reasons," said Raymond. Raymond said when they developed the current rules for groundwater wells, officials were trying to be conservative enough that a cut-off wasn't needed. "Remember these rules not only apply to agricultural irrigation, they apply to all high-capacity wells," including municipal drinking water systems.

Source: CBC News August 09, 2021 16:26 UTC