FINAL BILL REPORT

                     SHB 2833

                                 C 204 L 92

                            Synopsis As Enacted

Brief Description:  Regulating the usage of reclaimed water.

By Representatives Fraser, McLean, Rayburn, Edmondson, Valle, Miller, Belcher, Brekke and Haugen.

House Committee on Natural Resources & Parks

Senate Committee on Agriculture & Water Resources

Background:  Legislation passed in 1989 required the Department of Health to, contingent upon the availability of funds, encourage the use of reclaimed water.  Permanent standards have not been adopted.  Many states, including California and Oregon, have standards that allow the use of reclaimed water.

Summary:  The Department of Health, in coordination with the Department of Ecology, is required to adopt a single set of permanent standards, procedures and guidelines by August 1, 1993, for the industrial and commercial use of reclaimed water. The Department of Ecology, in coordination with the Department of Health, is required to adopt a single set of permanent standards, procedures and guidelines by August 1, 1993, for land applications of reclaimed water.

The departments are required to assist parties in developing pilot projects to use reclaimed water. The departments must develop interim standards for pilot projects using reclaimed water for application to land by July 1, 1992 and for use in commercial and industrial applications by November 15, 1992.

Persons lawfully using reclaimed water prior to the effective date of the act are not required to comply with standards, procedures and guidelines before July 1, 1995. 

The Department of Health is authorized to issue permits for the use of reclaimed water for industrial and commercial uses, but may not issue permits until a fee structure for the permits has been established.  A permit is required from the Department of Ecology for any land application of reclaimed water.  Permits issued by either department may be issued only to a municipal, quasi-municipal, or other governmental entity, or to a holder of a waste discharge permit.

The Department of Health is directed to report to the Legislature by August 1, 1994, on the progress of the program to use reclaimed water.  In addition, the department is directed to make recommendations regarding whether current uses of reclaimed water, exempt from compliance until July 1995 should be required to comply with the new standards.  The report must include guidelines to assure safe, high quality food products for domestic and export markets. The report must also consider potential uses of greywater, as distinct from reclaimed water, and make recommendations on such uses. The report is to be prepared in coordination with the Department of Ecology, State Building Code Council, and State Board of Health.

The Department of Health, in coordination with the Departments of Ecology and Agriculture, is required to form an advisory committee before May 1, 1992, to provide technical assistance on the development of standards for use of reclaimed water.  The department must report to the Joint Select Committee on Water Resource Policy by December 1, 1992, on the permit fees recommended and authorized under the act.

Votes on Final Passage:

House 95    0

Senate   48    0     (Senate amended)

House 96    0     (House concurred)

Effective:     April 2, 1992