These guidelines have been developed to assist both the public and private sectors engaging in projects requiring a Water Supply Source Assessment (WSSA) through the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) process. Projects typically requiring a WSSA include the construction and/or modification of municipal, industrial or communal water supply sources, large scale subdivision developments in unincorporated areas, and open loop earth energy systems using more than 120 m3 of water/day.
WSSAs are conducted to evaluate the sustainability of the water supply, to assess the water quality, and to evaluate potential impacts to existing water users. These guidelines outline the WSSA process and provide information on the hydrogeological assessment and reporting that is required for various types of projects. These guidelines describe the minimum requirements, however, it is expected that the registered professional engineer or geoscientist responsible for conducting a WSSA will use their professional judgment to determine if any additional requirements are warranted.