Industrial Water Use Charges
The Water Security Agency maintains a schedule of charges for the use of water by industries to reflect and emphasize the value of water, promote wise water usage and help offset the costs of managing our water resources.
Application of Charges
Charges are applied to industries using water for processing; mineral exploration and mining; oil exploration and recovery; manufacturing; gravel washing; hydraulic pressure testing; thermal power generation; and other purposes the Water Security Agency may designate. The level of charge applied considers the use of the water and the source of the water.
The following industries are currently exempt from charges:
- agricultural industrial water users including intensive livestock operations; and
- industries which are connected to and supplied water directly from municipal waterworks systems.
Measurement of Water Use
Industrial water users subject to water use charges are required to provide metering devices or other methods of water measurement acceptable to the Water Security Agency;
Except where waived in writing by the Water Security Agency, each industrial water user shall be required to collect data and maintain records of its water use;
The Water Security Agency may determine the water use charges in proportion to the amount of product produced by the industrial water user when there are unusual difficulties experienced in making suitable water measurement; and,
In the event of a malfunction of the measuring device, or if the industrial water user fails to make proper measurements or to provide adequate records of water use, the Water Security Agency may estimate the quantity of water used.
The standard unit of measurement is a thousand cubic metres which is equivalent to:
- 35,314.5 cubic feet
- 0.811 acre feet
- 219,963 Imperial gallons
- 264,170 U.S. gallons
- 6,284.7 barrels
- 733,210 kWh electrical generation by thermal power plants.
Reporting Water Use
Unless otherwise required by the Water Security Agency, industrial water users shall submit monthly reports of water use on forms supplied for that purpose; and,
All water use reports shall be completed accurately and sent to the Water Security Agency not later than the tenth day of the following month or ten days following the measurement period authorized by the Water Security Agency.
Schedule of Charges
Schedule “A” shows the rates charged for industrial water use.
Billing Procedure and Payment
The Water Security Agency may determine the billing period for each industrial water user; and,
The Water Security Agency will bill industrial water users for the billing period, on the basis of recorded or estimated water diversion.
Payment of industrial water use charges shall be made within 30 days of the billing date; and,
Late payments shall be subject to a surcharge of 1.5 per cent per month.
Inspection of Works
From time to time, the Water Security Agency may undertake inspections of works or measuring devices and examine the water user’s records.
Schedule “A” Industrial Water Use Charges
| Category of Water Use | Effective Date of Charge February 28, 2020 (per 1,000 cubic metres) |
|---|---|
| Water taken from the South Saskatchewan River, Lake Diefenbaker, Buffalo Pound Lake, the Qu’Appelle River, the Souris River, Rafferty, Boundary and Grant Devine reservoirs | $54.52 |
| Water taken from any source, other than those listed in item 1, having TDS of 4,000 mg/L or less | $17.44 |
| Water taken from any source to be used as non-consumptive cooling water in thermal generation plants | $17.44 |
| Water taken from any source having TDS in excess of 4,000 mg/L, except water obtained from the Blairmore or deeper ground water formations | $2.20 |
| Temporary industrial users regardless of source | $17.70 |
Notes:
- TDS is defined as total dissolved solids expressed as mg/L.
- The Water Security Agency may, in cases where industries divert large quantities of water in relation to their consumptive use, and where the water is returned to its original source without significant impairment of its quality, determine that the charge will apply to a stated portion of the water diverted.