AN ACT Relating to the protection of subterranean water; and adding a new chapter to Title 36 RCW.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON:

NEW SECTION. Sec. 1. The protection of subterranean water from pollution or degradation is of great concern. The purpose of this chapter is to allow the creation of aquifer protection areas to fund the protection, preservation, and rehabilitation of subterranean water. Pollution and degradation of subterranean drinking water supplies pose immediate threats to the safety and welfare of the citizens of this state.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 2. The county legislative authority of a county may create one or more aquifer protection areas for the purpose of funding the protection, preservation, and rehabilitation of subterranean water.

When a county legislative authority proposes to create an aquifer protection area it shall conduct a public hearing on the proposal. Notice of the public hearing shall be published at least once, not less than ten days prior to the hearing, in a newspaper of general circulation within the proposed aquifer protection area. The public hearing may be continued to other times, dates, and places announced at the public hearing, without publication of the notice. At the public hearing, the county legislative authority shall hear objections and comments from anyone interested in the proposed aquifer protection area.

After the public hearing, the county legislative authority may adopt a resolution causing a ballot proposition to be submitted to the registered voters residing within the proposed aquifer protection area to authorize the creation of the aquifer protection area, if the county legislative authority finds that the creation of the aquifer protection area would be in the public interest. The resolution shall: (1) Describe the boundaries of the proposed aquifer protection area; (2) find that its creation is in the public interest; (3) state the maximum level of fees for the withdrawal of water, or on-site sewage disposal, occurring in the aquifer protection area, or both; and (4) describe the uses for the fees.

An aquifer protection area shall be created by ordinances of the county if the voters residing in the proposed aquifer protection area approve the ballot proposition by a simple majority vote. The ballot proposition shall be in substantially the following form:

"Shall the ___ (insert the name) aquifer protection area be created and authorized to impose monthly fees on ___ (insert "the withdrawal of water" or "on-site sewage disposal") of not to exceed ___ (insert a dollar amount) per household unit?

Yes .......... ___

No .......... ___"

An aquifer protection area may not include territory located within a city or town without the approval of the city or town governing body, nor may it include territory located in the unincorporated area of another county without the approval of the county legislative authority of that county.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 3. Aquifer protection areas are authorized to impose fees on the withdrawal of subterranean water and on on-site sewage disposal. The fees shall be expressed as a dollar amount per household unit. Fees imposed for the withdrawal of water, or on-site sewage disposal, other than by households shall be expressed and imposed in equivalents of household units.

No fees may be imposed in excess of the amount authorized by the voters of the aquifer protection area. Ballot propositions may be submitted to the voters of an aquifer protection area to authorize a higher maximum level of such fees. Such a ballot proposition shall be substantially in the form of that portion of the proposition to authorize the creation of an aquifer protection district that relates to fees, as provided in section 2 of this act. Approval of the ballot proposition by simple majority vote shall authorize the higher maximum level of fees.

A county may contract with existing public utilities to collect the fees, or collect the fees itself by using separate billings or sending the billings together with property tax statements mailed by the county treasurer.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 4. Aquifer protection areas may impose fees to fund:

(1) The preparation of a comprehensive plan to protect, preserve, and rehabilitate subterranean water;

(2) The provision and operation of facilities for: (a) The removal of water-borne pollution; (b) water quality improvement; (c) sanitary sewage collection, disposal, and treatment; and (d) storm water or surface water drainage collection, disposal, and treatment; and

(3) The proportionate reduction of fees, charges, or special assessments imposed by a county, city, town, or special district in the aquifer protection area for any of the facilities described in subsection (2) of this section.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 5. A county legislative authority may dissolve an aquifer protection area upon a finding that such dissolution is in the public interest.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 6. Sections 1 through 5 of this act shall constitute a new chapter in Title 36 RCW.