A Permit to Take Water (PTTW) is required for any person who takes more than 50,000 litres of water per day in Ontario, unless the activity must be registered on the Environmental Activity and Sector Registry (EASR) or is exempt, according to the Ministry of the Environment, Conservation and Parks. Which of the two applies, and how much study the ministry expects, depends on the purpose, source, volume and duration of the taking. The rule itself is section 34 of the Ontario Water Resources Act: no person shall take more than 50,000 litres of water on any day except under a permit. The supporting study is completed by a licensed hydrogeologist (P.Geo.) or professional engineer (P.Eng.).
EASR or Permit to Take Water?
A water taking of more than 50,000 litres per day in Ontario needs a Permit to Take Water unless it is one of the three EASR activities or is exempt.
Enter your expected taking. The answer updates as you go.
Thresholds checked 2026-10-14 against Ontario Water Resources Act s. 34, O. Reg. 63/16 and O. Reg. 387/04 on e-Laws, and the ministry's PTTW application requirements for categories and fees. A screening aid, not a legal determination. A qualified person confirms the permission for your site.
The three EASR activities
EASR registration replaces a Permit to Take Water for three kinds of water taking only: construction site dewatering, short pumping tests, and certain highway and transit projects that take surface water.
Only three kinds of water taking must be registered on the EASR instead of applying for a permit:
- Construction site dewatering taking more than 50,000 litres of groundwater, stormwater or both on any day. See construction dewatering assessments.
- Pumping tests taking more than 50,000 and not more than 5,000,000 litres per day, for no more than 7 days within a 30-day period.
- Highway and transit projects taking more than 50,000 litres per day of surface water. Under section 2 of Ontario Regulation 63/16, the water body must be a lake larger than 10 hectares, a pond not connected to a creek, stream or river, or a permanent stream of order three or higher.
Everything else above 50,000 litres per day that is not exempt goes through a permit application.
If you are registering construction dewatering, the EASR dewatering registration steps guide follows a job from the reports to closing out.
Permit categories for groundwater
Permit to Take Water applications for groundwater fall into Category 1, 2 or 3 by risk, and the category sets both the technical support required and the ministry fee of $750 or $3,000.
The ministry sorts applications by risk. The category sets how much technical work goes in, and the fee. These groundwater criteria are from the PTTW application requirements.
| Category | Groundwater takings that fit | Technical support | Fee |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Renewals with no change and no past interference; certain isolated ponds | None required | $750 |
| 2 | Short-term, non-recurring: under 7 days, or under 30 consecutive days and under 400,000 L/day | Scoped scientific evaluation by a qualified person | $750 |
| 3 | Every groundwater taking that does not fit Category 1 or 2 | Hydrogeological study by a qualified person | $3,000 |
Agricultural irrigation, frost protection and aquaculture applications pay no fee. Surface water takings use separate criteria.
Inside a Category 3 hydrogeological study
The ministry's technical guidance for Category 3 studies expects the report to be signed and stamped by a licensed geoscientist or exempted engineer. In practice that means:
Site characterization
The aquifers and aquitards relevant to the taking: depth, thickness, continuity, hydraulic conductivity, transmissivity, storativity and recharge, using field data in line with the professional practice guidelines of the Association of Professional Geoscientists of Ontario (now Professional Geoscientists Ontario).
Well survey
A reasonable effort to field-verify wells within the study area or 500 m of the pumping well, whichever is less, plus drilled wells farther out where more than 1 m of drawdown is predicted. Owners are identified by number, never by name.
Pumping test
Normally at least 24 hours at or above the requested rate, with 72 hours generally recommended, observation wells in the same formation, and continuous water level logging during pumping and recovery.
Impact assessment and plans
Predicted interference with other wells, effects on streams and wetlands, a monitoring plan and a contingency plan with thresholds for action.
From PTTW application to permit
A Permit to Take Water moves from the category check and field work to online submission, screening, possible posting on the Registry, technical review and a posted decision, with no fixed review time published.
- Confirm the category and retain a qualified person for Category 2 or 3.
- Complete field work, the pumping test and the study.
- Submit online through a ministry account, with the study and fee.
- Screening for completeness; if required, posting on the Environmental Registry of Ontario for a minimum 30-day comment period.
- Technical review, with possible requests for more information. Applications can be cancelled if requested information is not provided in time.
- Decision posted on the Registry. An approved permit carries an expiry date and legally binding conditions.
These steps are summarized from the ministry's permits to take water guidance. The ministry does not publish a fixed review time, so plan the field season and the application well ahead of when water is needed.
Permit to Take Water study cost
The use of the water, the source and whether it is a new permit or a renewal are the main drivers. These ranges come from the estimator's pricing data and exclude the ministry application fee.
| Answer | Indicative range |
|---|---|
| Starting point (Irrigation or agricultural, Groundwater, New permit) | $12,000 – $20,000 |
| Water use | |
| Irrigation or agricultural (starting point) | $12,000 – $20,000 |
| Golf course | $13,000 – $22,000 |
| Commercial or industrial supply | $14,500 – $24,000 |
| Water source | |
| Groundwater (starting point) | $12,000 – $20,000 |
| Surface water | $9,500 – $16,000 |
| Both | $15,500 – $26,000 |
| Permit status | |
| New permit (starting point) | $12,000 – $20,000 |
| Renewal or amendment | $6,500 – $11,000 |
| Full span across all answers | $5,500 – $31,000 |
Each row changes one answer and leaves the others at the starting point. Indicative ranges, rounded to the nearest $500. They exclude well drilling, government application fees and HST. Final scope is confirmed by the hydrogeologist after reviewing your site.
Costs rise with multiple wells pumped together, surface water features close to the well, a long list of neighbouring wells to survey, and permits that need a surface water specialist as well as a hydrogeologist.
What you need before the study starts
Before a Permit to Take Water study starts, the hydrogeologist needs the expected taking rates and volumes, well records, any existing permit, records of past complaints and access for a pumping test.
- Expected maximum rate per minute, hours per day, volume per day and days per year
- Well records for existing wells, or the planned well locations
- Your existing permit and its conditions, if this is a renewal
- Records of any past complaints or interference
- Access for a pumping test and somewhere to discharge the water during it
Common reasons for delays
Permit to Take Water applications are most often delayed by a wrong category, a short or under-rate pumping test, a thin well survey or a renewal filed after the permit expires.
- Wrong category. An application filed as Category 2 that does not meet the criteria has to be redone as Category 3.
- Short or under-rate pumping test. A test run below the requested rate, or stopped before boundary effects show, leaves the reviewer without the data to judge interference.
- Thin well survey. Missing nearby wells is the most common gap in interference assessments.
- Late renewal. Applying after expiry can interrupt a seasonal taking.
Worked cost examples
Each example runs the estimator's own calculation on a realistic set of answers.
-
New irrigation well for a farm$12,000 – $20,000
Water use: Irrigation or agricultural · Water source: Groundwater · Permit status: New permit
The base case: one groundwater source and a new permit, usually Category 3 when the taking is seasonal and recurring. There is no ministry application fee for agricultural irrigation.
-
Golf course drawing on a pond and a well, new permit$17,000 – $28,500
Water use: Golf course · Water source: Both · Permit status: New permit
Two sources mean both a hydrogeological study and a surface water assessment, so the source answer multiplies the range more than the use does.
-
Renewal for a commercial water supply, groundwater$8,000 – $13,000
Water use: Commercial or industrial supply · Water source: Groundwater · Permit status: Renewal or amendment
A renewal with no change and no past interference can be Category 1 and need no new study. The range covers reviewing the permit conditions, compiling monitoring data and preparing the renewal; it rises if the current permit requires a new technical study at renewal.
What the reviewer checks in a Category 3 study
In a Category 3 Permit to Take Water study, the reviewer checks the signature and stamp, the field data, the well survey, the pumping test, interference predictions and the monitoring and contingency plans.
- Report signed and stamped by a licensed geoscientist or exempted engineer
- Aquifer and aquitard properties supported by field data
- Well survey effort within 500 m, and beyond where drawdown exceeds 1 m (drilled) or 0.25 m (dug or bored)
- Pumping test at or above the requested rate, with its duration justified
- Observation wells in the same formation and continuous water level data
- Recovery monitoring, typically to 95%
- Interference predictions for representative users, using conservative aquifer parameters
- Effects on surface water, including stream depletion against low flow where relevant
- A monitoring plan with action thresholds and a contingency plan
- Data supplied in digital format when the ministry asks
EASR registration or Permit to Take Water: side by side
EASR registration is self-registered online for three activities under fixed rules, while a Permit to Take Water is applied for, reviewed by the ministry and issued with site-specific conditions and an expiry date.
| Aspect | EASR registration | Permit to Take Water |
|---|---|---|
| Applies to | Construction dewatering, pumping tests of 7 days or less up to 5,000,000 L/day, certain highway and transit takings | All other takings over 50,000 L/day that are not exempt |
| How granted | Self-registered online once the qualified person's reports are in hand | Applied for, screened and technically reviewed by the ministry |
| Public notice | Not posted for comment | Posted on the Environmental Registry for at least 30 days where required |
| Rules | Fixed conditions in the regulation | Site-specific conditions and an expiry date |
| Reporting | Daily volumes, reported by March 31 | Daily volumes, reported by March 31, plus permit conditions |
Where this study is commonly required
Location pages with local requirements, groundwater data and the agencies involved, by region:
Greater Toronto and Hamilton Area
Eastern Ontario
Southwestern Ontario
Permit to Take Water questions
What is the difference between an EASR registration and a Permit to Take Water?
Both are provincial permissions for taking water. An EASR registration is self-registered online for specific activities set out in regulation (construction site dewatering, short pumping tests and certain highway and transit projects), supported by reports from a qualified person. A Permit to Take Water is applied for and reviewed by the ministry, may be posted for public comment, and is issued with an expiry date and site-specific conditions.
How much does the ministry charge to apply?
According to the ministry's application requirements, the fee is $750 for Category 1 and Category 2 applications and $3,000 for Category 3. There is no fee for irrigation and frost protection for agriculture, or for aquaculture. The fee is separate from the cost of the hydrogeological study.
When should I start a PTTW renewal?
The ministry asks permit holders to apply to renew six months before the expiry date. If a permit has expired within the past 12 months, it can be renewed; after more than 12 months, a new application is needed. Our guide to renewing a Permit to Take Water sets out the steps.
Does a renewal need a new hydrogeological study?
Not always: a renewal for the same or lesser amount, purpose, location and source, with no past interference and no study required, is a Category 1 application. Check the conditions on your current permit: some require a new technical study at renewal.
How long does a pumping test for a Category 3 application run?
A pumping test for a Category 3 application normally runs at least 24 hours, with a 72-hour test generally recommended. The ministry's Category 3 guidance says it may be shorter if the qualified person is satisfied the system has been characterized. Water levels are monitored during and after pumping, typically until 95% recovery.
What reporting comes with a permit?
Every permit comes with reporting: holders must record daily water taking volumes and report them to the ministry on or before March 31 for the previous calendar year. If no water was taken, a "no taking" report is still required. Many permits also carry conditions for water level monitoring and annual reports.
Related studies
- Construction Dewatering Assessment
Groundwater inflow estimates and dewatering rates for excavations, basements and servicing trenches.
- Water Supply Well Assessment & Pumping Tests
Pumping tests, well yield and interference assessments for commercial, agricultural and communal supplies.
- Groundwater Monitoring & Annual Reporting
Water level and water quality monitoring programs, baseline private well surveys and annual reports.
- Hydrogeological study cost guide
Ranges for every study type, side by side.
Sources
- Environmental permissions for water taking (opens in a new tab), Government of Ontario (MECP).
- Ontario Water Resources Act, R.S.O. 1990, c. O.40, section 34 (opens in a new tab), Government of Ontario (e-Laws).
- O. Reg. 63/16: Registrations under Part II.2 of the Act - Water Taking (consolidated to e-Laws currency date October 9, 2026) (opens in a new tab), Government of Ontario (e-Laws).
- O. Reg. 387/04: Water Taking and Transfer (consolidated to e-Laws currency date October 9, 2026) (opens in a new tab), Government of Ontario (e-Laws).
- Permits to take water: application requirements (opens in a new tab), Government of Ontario (MECP).
- Technical guidance document for hydrogeological studies in support of Category 3 applications (opens in a new tab), Government of Ontario (MECP).
- New business name: Professional Geoscientists Ontario (since June 2019; the legal name in the Professional Geoscientists Act is unchanged) (opens in a new tab), Professional Geoscientists Ontario.
- Permits to take water (opens in a new tab), Government of Ontario (MECP).
- Water taking user guide for the Environmental Activity and Sector Registry (opens in a new tab), Government of Ontario (MECP).
- Permits to take water: operating your permit (opens in a new tab), Government of Ontario (MECP).