SENATE BILL REPORT

                                   SHB 2833

          AS REPORTED BY COMMITTEE ON AGRICULTURE & WATER RESOURCES,

                               FEBRUARY 27, 1992

Brief Description:  Regulating the usage of reclaimed water.

SPONSORS: House Committee on Natural Resources & Parks (originally sponsored by Representatives Fraser, McLean, Rayburn, Edmondson, Valle, Miller, Belcher, Brekke and Haugen)

HOUSE COMMITTEE ON NATURAL RESOURCES & PARKS

SENATE COMMITTEE ON AGRICULTURE & WATER RESOURCES

Majority Report:  Do pass as amended. 

      Signed by Senators Barr, Chairman; Anderson, Vice Chairman; Bailey, Gaspard, and Hansen.

Staff:  Bob Lee (786‑7404)

Hearing Dates: February 21, 1992; February 27, 1992

BACKGROUND:

Legislation passed in 1989 required the Department of Health to, contingent upon the availability of funds, encourage the use of reclaimed water.  Many states, including California and Oregon, presently have adopted standards which allow the use of reclaimed water.  Recently a number of large utilities and private sector users of large quantities of water asked that the state expedite the development of reuse standards so that projects currently in the planning stages may include reuse capabilities.

SUMMARY:

The Department of Health and the Department of Ecology are required to adopt a single set of permanent standards, procedures and guidelines by August 1, 1993, for the use of reclaimed water.  The departments are required to develop interim guidelines for the use of reclaimed water for application to land by July 1, 1992, and for use in commercial and industrial applications by November 15, 1992.  Persons using reclaimed water prior to the effective date of this act are not required to comply with standards, procedures and guidelines before August 1, 1994.  The Department of Health is authorized to develop pilot projects to aid in achieving the purposes of this act.

The Department of Health is authorized to require a permit for the use of reclaimed water and to charge fees for such permits.  A permit is required from the Department of Ecology for any land application of reclaimed water, and may be issued only to a municipal, quasi-municipal, or other governmental entity.

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 as to whether current uses of reclaimed water, exempt from compliance until August 1994, should be required to obtain a permit and comply with the new standards.  The report must also consider potential uses of greywater, as distinct from reclaimed water, and make recommendations.  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 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.

Appropriation:  none

Revenue:  none

Fiscal Note:  requested

Effective Date:  The bill contains an emergency clause and takes effect immediately.

SUMMARY OF PROPOSED SENATE AMENDMENT:

The definition of reclaimed water now includes water derived in some part from sewage only.  Those entities which are not public may now receive a reclaimed water permit if they already are in possession of a waste discharge permit.  Under all circumstances only one permit will be issued.  Residential uses (other than greywater) are now included in the definition of land application.  The Department of Agriculture will now be part of the advisory committee, and food products will be a focus of the report by the Department of Health.

TESTIMONY FOR:

This bill is necessary for the use of reclaimed water in projects about to begin construction.  The savings of water overall will be dramatic.

TESTIMONY AGAINST:

Those who are currently reusing water, specifically in agricultural contexts, and were not intended to be regulated further by this bill should not now be required to receive more permits, or worse, be disallowed from continuing their practices.

TESTIFIED:  Paul W. Locke; George Tyler; Eric Slagle, Dave Clark, Department of Health; Bill Fritz, Washington Food Processors Council; Kathleen Collins, Association of Washington Cities; Nota Lucas, Seattle Water Department