HOUSE BILL REPORT

                 2SHB 1817

                    As Passed Legislature

Title:  An act relating to a reclaimed water demonstration program.

Brief Description:  Authorizing reclaimed water demonstration projects.

Sponsors:  By House Committee on Appropriations (originally sponsored by  Representatives Chandler, Kessler, Alexander, Linville, DeBolt, O'Brien, Skinner, Wolfe, McMorris, Ogden, D. Sommers, Hankins, Cooke and Mason).

Brief History:

Committee Activity:

Agriculture & Ecology:  2/17/97, 2/24/97 [DPS];

Appropriations:  3/8/97 [DP2S(w/o sub AGEC)].

Floor Activity:

Passed House:  3/18/97, 98‑0.

Senate Amended.

House Concurred.

Passed Legislature.

HOUSE COMMITTEE ON AGRICULTURE & ECOLOGY

Majority Report:  The substitute bill be substituted therefor and the substitute bill do pass.  Signed by 11 members:  Representatives Chandler, Chairman; Parlette, Vice Chairman; Schoesler, Vice Chairman; Linville, Ranking Minority Member; Anderson, Assistant Ranking Minority Member; Cooper; Delvin; Koster; Mastin; Regala and Sump.

Staff:  Bill Lynch (786-7092).

HOUSE COMMITTEE ON APPROPRIATIONS

Majority Report:  The second substitute bill be substituted therefor and the second substitute bill do pass and do not pass the substitute bill by Committee on Agriculture & Ecology.  Signed by 30 members:  Representatives Huff, Chairman; Alexander, Vice Chairman; Clements, Vice Chairman; Wensman, Vice Chairman; H. Sommers, Ranking Minority Member; Doumit, Assistant Ranking Minority Member; Gombosky, Assistant Ranking Minority Member; Benson; Carlson; Chopp; Cody; Cooke; Crouse; Grant; Keiser; Kenney; Kessler; Lambert; Linville; Lisk; Mastin; McMorris; Parlette; Poulsen; Regala; D. Schmidt; Sehlin; Sheahan; Talcott and Tokuda.

Staff:  Nancy Stevenson (786-7137).

Background:  The Legislature has adopted legislation to encourage the use of reclaimed water.  Reclaimed water can be used in many instances instead of water that is otherwise suitable for drinking purposes.  It is suggested that by funding demonstration projects that are varied in nature, it will help provide the experience necessary to refine the technologies so that reclaimed water can be used in a more cost-effective manner.

Summary of Bill:  The Department of Ecology is directed to establish and administer a reclaimed water demonstration program in cooperation with the Department of Health.  The demonstration program consists of five demonstration projects.

The Department of Ecology must enter into a grant agreement with each of the demonstration project jurisdictions by September 30, 1997.  The agreement must include reporting requirements, time-lines, and a fund disbursement schedule based upon agreed project milestones.  The Department of Ecology must report to the appropriate legislative committees on the results of the program upon completion of the projects.

Pilot projects that discharge or deliver reclaimed water into federal reclamation project or irrigation district facilities must meet the requirements of the facilities' operating entity for such discharges or deliveries.  No irrigation district is liable for any damages to persons or property arising from the demonstration projects.

The five reclaimed water demonstration projects are:

(1)City of Ephrata will use Class A reclaimed water for surface spreading to recharge the groundwater and reduce the nitrate concentrations that exceed standards for drinking water;

(2)Lincoln County will study using reclaimed water to transport 22 million gallons a day from Spokane to sources that will put water back into long depleted streambeds, and the water will eventually become part of the Columbia basin project water;

(3)Royal City will replace an interim emergency sprayfield by using 100 percent of its discharge as Class A reclaimed water to augment summer irrigation and enhance local wetlands and lakes in the winter;

(4)The city of Sequim will implement a tertiary treatment system and reuse 100 percent of its wastewater to reopen an existing shellfish closure area, improve streamflows into the Dungeness River, and provide a sustainable water supply for irrigation; and

(5)The city of Yelm will use 100 percent of its wastewater to provide alternative water supply for irrigation and industrial use to offset increased demands for water, protect Nisqually River chum salmon runs, and develop experimental artificial wetlands to test low cost treatment options.

Appropriation:  None.

Fiscal Note:  Not requested.

Effective Date  Ninety days after adjournment of session in which bill is passed.  However, the bill is null and void unless funded in the budget.

Testimony For:  (Agriculture & Ecology)  These projects have had lots of citizen involvement.  These projects are technically feasible.  Small communities have committed scarce resources to make these work as long-term solutions to their problems.  The projects will help attract industry in areas where the population is growing, will help in-stream flows for salmon runs, improve recreation opportunities, and allow for additional irrigation.  These projects will help in the development of criteria for reclaimed water.  West Medical Lake should be added as a pilot project.

 (Appropriations)  Using reclaimed water makes sense.  Reclaimed water can be used for a number of non-potable purposes.  This is wastewater treated to a higher standard so that it can be reused.  The purpose of these demonstration projects is to test standards and develop criteria for reclaimed water use in the future.  This is costly for small cities.

Testimony Against:  (Agriculture & Ecology)  None.

 (Appropriations)  None.

Testified:  (Agriculture & Ecology)  Representative Gary Alexander, prime sponsor (pro); Representative Lynn Kessler, prime sponsor (pro); Kathleen Collins, Association of Washington cities (pro); Bob Smith, city of Sequim (pro); Mike Konen, city of Royal City (pro); Bill Graedel, Lincoln County (pro); Dianne Recknagle, city of Ephrata (pro); Kathy Wolf, city of Yelm (pro); D.C. Terry Harland, city of Medical Lake (pro); Pete Rose, city of Medical Lake (pro); Dr. Larry Esvelt, city of Medical Lake (pro); Sandy Mackie (pro); and Mike Schwisow, Washington State Water Resource Association (pro w/concerns (original bill)).

(Appropriations)  Kathryn Wolf, City of Yelm; and Kathleen Collins, Reclaimed Water Demonstration Project.