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Groundwater, aquifers and wells

Last updated on May 6, 2025

Groundwater in B.C. is a vital resource. It provides drinking water to one quarter of B.C. residents and is key to our long-term food and water security.

This page provides information about groundwater, aquifers and wells. This includes resources for property owners, water professionals and scientists. 

On this page

About groundwater, aquifers and wells

Groundwater is water that occurs naturally below the surface of the ground.

Aquifers are underground layers of broken rock, gravel, sand or silt containing groundwater that can be brought to the surface through a water well.

Water wells are dug or drilled into the ground and provide industry, municipalities, farms and homeowners with access to groundwater stored in aquifers.

To learn more:

Regulatory information for well owners and water professionals

A variety of laws and rules govern water use. Provincial authorities, local governments and federal agencies work to ensure that water is managed sustainably. This ensures that the water supply is protected for use by people and the environment. 

Laws and rules for groundwater 

In B.C. there are two main pieces of legislation that directly relate to groundwater, aquifers and wells. The Groundwater Protection Regulation (GWPR) sets strict standards for the construction and maintenance of wells. The Water Sustainability Act (WSA) is the principal law for managing the diversion and use of water resources. There are also several other pieces of legislation that relate to water management more broadly. 

To learn more:

Information for well owners and groundwater users

Well owners are responsible for ensuring that their wells are maintained so as not to harm the groundwater supply. In addition, groundwater users using groundwater for non-domestic purposes are also required to have a water license.  

To learn how to construct, maintain and register your well, and how to apply for a water license:

Information for water well drillers and pump installers 

Under the GWPR the construction and the decommissioning of wells, as well as installing well pumps, are restricted activities that must be performed or directly supervised by qualified people who are registered with the province to work in B.C.

To learn more:

Provincial groundwater science, research and data

To effectively manage groundwater resources, the government of B.C. collects and manages information on wells and aquifers. It actively monitors groundwater levels and water quality. It also conducts a variety of scientific studies to better understand the groundwater availability and characteristics of B.C.’s aquifers.

Groundwater Wells and Aquifers database (GWELLS) 

The B.C. government maintains a database of registered water wells and provincially mapped aquifers. This data is publicly accessible through the Groundwater Wells and Aquifers (GWELLS)  application.

To learn more: 

Provincial Groundwater Observation Well Network (PGOWN)

The B.C. government monitors groundwater levels and groundwater chemistry through the Provincial Groundwater Observation Well Network.

To access the location and data for provincial observation wells: 

Water Science Series: Science and research publications 

The Water Science Series is a technical publication series that communicates scientific knowledge gained through the provincial groundwater science programs.

To learn more:

Other sources of water information 

The B.C. government also maintains a series of other websites, tools, interactive maps and databases that support water resource management more broadly.

To learn more: