Private Water Supply Policy

The District of Tofino is developing a Private Water Supply Policy and is inviting the community to review the draft and share questions or feedback.

The proposed policy would establish a consistent and transparent framework for reviewing private water supply systems as part of development applications. These systems may include wells, rainwater harvesting, desalination, or other treatment-based systems.

The policy is intended to support responsible development while protecting the community’s watershed and reducing pressure on the municipal water system during the summer and early fall, when water demand is highest.

Policy Background

The District currently reviews proposals involving private water sources on a case-by-case basis. Without a formal policy, applicants may face inconsistent expectations, variable design standards, and uncertainty about what information or safeguards the District requires.

The draft policy would provide clearer guidance for applicants and support more consistent decision-making by District staff.

It would also clarify that approval of a development does not guarantee access to municipal water during periods when the water system has limited capacity.

Key Policy Areas

The draft policy outlines expectations for private water supply systems that are intended to reduce reliance on municipal water between July 1 and September 30.

Key areas include:

• The reliability and long-term sustainability of private water sources
• Water storage requirements
• System treatment, redundancy, and backup measures
• Design and oversight by qualified professionals
• Protection of the municipal water system through backflow prevention
• Ongoing operation and maintenance responsibilities
• Potential legal agreements to ensure approved systems continue to operate as intended
• Requirements for potable and non-potable water systems

Private water supply systems would remain the property owner's responsibility and would need to comply with applicable building, plumbing, health, environmental, and municipal requirements.

Public Engagement

Council directed staff to facilitate broad public engagement before the policy returns to Council for consideration.

The District is seeking input from the general public and will also engage with developers, contractors, qualified professionals, and representatives from related industries. This approach will help gather a broad range of community and technical perspectives.

View the draft policy

Ask a Question

Community members may submit questions about the draft Private Water Supply Policy through the questions tool below.

District staff will review submitted questions and provide a response within three to five business days. Questions and responses may appear publicly on this page so others can learn more about the proposed policy.

Provide Feedback

Community members may also provide comments directly to the Director of Infrastructure and Public Works.

Feedback may address any aspect of the proposed policy, including its overall approach, potential impacts, technical requirements, implementation, or other considerations.

Submit feedback to:

Simon Kirkland, Director of Infrastructure & Public Works (Interim) | skirkland@tofino.ca

The engagement period closes on July 31, 2026.

Next Steps

Following public engagement, staff will review the feedback received and consider potential revisions to the draft policy.

Staff anticipate returning to Council in the fall or winter with a final policy and proposed amendments to the District’s Water Utility Bylaw for consideration.