HOUSE BILL REPORT

                  HB 1999

             As Reported By House Committee On:

                     Energy & Utilities

Title:  An act relating to public water system emergency response requirements.

Brief Description:  Requiring back‑up power for public water systems.

Sponsors:  Representatives Campbell, Grant, Mastin and Veloria.

Brief History:

  Reported by House Committee on:

Energy & Utilities, March 2, 1993, DPS.

HOUSE COMMITTEE ON ENERGY & UTILITIES

Majority Report:  The substitute bill be substituted therefor and the substitute bill do pass.  Signed by 8 members:  Representatives Grant, Chair; Finkbeiner, Vice Chair; Casada, Ranking Minority Member; Miller, Assistant Ranking Minority Member; Johanson; Kessler; Long; and Ludwig.

Minority Report:  Without recommendation.  Signed by 1 member:  Representative Kremen.

Staff:  Harry Reinert (786-7110).

Background:  The state Board of Health regulates public water systems in the state.  A public water system is any system having two or more connections.  The board's rules are required to include provision for emergency response.  The board's rules require a public water system to provide an "adequate quantity and quality of water in a reliable manner at all times."  The system is also required to ensure that "the system is constructed, operated, and maintained to protect against failures of power supply ...."

Summary of Substitute Bill:  The state Board of Health shall include, in its rules, provisions requiring public water systems to be able to maintain an adequate supply and quality of water during a power outage or natural disaster.  The provisions shall make allowances for the size and nature of public water systems and for the financial impacts of the provisions on the systems.

Substitute Bill Compared to Original Bill:  The original bill directed the state Board of Health to include, in its rules, a requirement that public water systems have a back-up power source capable of maintaining a water system's water for 48 hours.  The back-up power source would have been required to be tested every 60 days.

Fiscal Note:  Requested February 23, 1993.

Effective Date of Substitute Bill:  Ninety days after adjournment of session in which bill is passed.

Testimony For:  The recent wind storm left many home owners without a vital necessity, water.  Public water systems should be required to make provisions to be able to meet these types of circumstances.

Testimony Against:  (Original Bill) The cost of providing back-up power can be quite expensive for very small water systems.  There may be better ways of meeting the objectives of the bill without requiring back-up power.  These requirements may not be appropriate for large systems.

Witnesses:  Rep. Tom Campbell, prime sponsor (pro); William Hawn, Kitsap County PUD (con, original bill); Richard Junk, Woodland Park Water Association (pro); Dave Clark, Department of Health (pro); Greg Hanon, Tacoma Public Utilities (con, original bill); and Bill Scott, citizen (con, original bill).