H-1781

AN ACT Relating to reclaimed water; amending RCW 90.46.010, 90.46.080, and 90.46.090; adding a new section to chapter 90.46 RCW; adding a new section to chapter 90.48 RCW; and creating a new section.

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

Sec. 1. RCW 90.46.010 and 1995 c 342 s 2 are each amended to read as follows:

Unless the context clearly requires otherwise, the definitions in this section apply throughout this chapter.

(1) "Greywater" means wastewater having the consistency and strength of residential domestic type wastewater. Greywater includes wastewater from sinks, showers, and laundry fixtures, but does not include toilet or urinal waters.

(2) "Land application" means application of treated effluent for purposes of irrigation or landscape enhancement for residential, business, and governmental purposes.

(3) "Person" means any state, individual, public or private corporation, political subdivision, governmental subdivision, governmental agency, municipality, copartnership, association, firm, trust estate, or any other legal entity whatever.

(4) "Reclaimed water" means effluent derived in any part from sewage from a wastewater treatment system that has been adequately and reliably treated, so that as a result of that treatment, it is suitable for a ((~~direct~~)) beneficial use or a controlled use that would not otherwise occur and is no longer considered wastewater.

(5) "Sewage" means water-carried human wastes((~~, including kitchen, bath, and laundry waste~~)) from residences, buildings, industrial and commercial establishments, or other places, together with such ground water infiltration, surface waters, or industrial wastewater as may be present.

(6) "User" means any person who uses reclaimed water.

(7) "Wastewater" means water and wastes discharged from homes, businesses, and industry to the sewer system.

(8) "((~~Direct~~)) Beneficial use" means the use of reclaimed water, that has been transported from the point of production to the point of use without an intervening discharge to the waters of the state, for a beneficial purpose.

(9) "Direct recharge" means the controlled subsurface addition of water directly to the ground water basin that results in the replenishment of ground water.

(10) "Ground water recharge criteria" means the contaminant criteria found in the drinking water quality standards adopted by the state board of health pursuant to chapter 43.20 RCW and the department of health pursuant to chapter 70.119A RCW.

(11) "Planned ground water recharge project" means any reclaimed water project designed for the purpose of recharging ground water, via direct recharge or surface ((~~spreading~~)) percolation.

(12) "Reclamation criteria" means the criteria set forth in the water reclamation and reuse interim standards and subsequent revisions adopted by the department of ecology and the department of health.

(13) "Streamflow augmentation" means the discharge of reclaimed water to rivers and streams of the state or other surface water bodies, but not wetlands.

(14) "Surface ((~~spreading~~)) percolation" means the controlled application of water to the ground surface for the purpose of replenishing ground water.

(15) "Wetland or wetlands" means areas that are inundated or saturated by surface water or ground water at a frequency and duration sufficient to support, and that under normal circumstances do support, a prevalence of vegetation typically adapted to life in saturated soil conditions. Wetlands generally include swamps, marshes, bogs, and similar areas. Wetlands regulated under this chapter shall be delineated in accordance with the manual adopted by the department of ecology pursuant to RCW 90.58.380.

(16) ((~~"Created wetlands" means a wetland intentionally created from a nonwetland site to produce or replace natural habitat.~~)) "Constructed beneficial use wetlands" means those wetlands intentionally constructed on nonwetland sites to produce or replace natural wetland functions and values. Constructed beneficial use wetlands are considered "waters of the state."

(17) "Constructed treatment wetlands" means those wetlands intentionally constructed on nonwetland sites and managed for the primary purpose of wastewater or storm water treatment. Constructed treatment wetlands are considered part of the collection and treatment system and are not considered "waters of the state."

Sec. 2. RCW 90.46.080 and 1995 c 342 s 3 are each amended to read as follows:

(1) Reclaimed water may be beneficially used for surface ((~~spreading~~)) percolation provided the reclaimed water meets the ground water recharge criteria as measured in ground water beneath or down gradient of the recharge project site, and has been incorporated into a sewer or water comprehensive plan, as applicable, adopted by the applicable local government and approved by the department of health or department of ecology as applicable.

(2) If the state ground water recharge criteria as defined by RCW 90.46.010 do not contain a standard for a constituent or contaminant, the department of ecology shall establish a discharge limit consistent with the goals of this chapter.

(3) Reclaimed water that does not meet the ground water recharge criteria may be beneficially used for surface percolation where the department of ecology, in consultation with the department of health, has specifically authorized such use at such lower standard.

Sec. 3. RCW 90.46.090 and 1995 c 342 s 4 are each amended to read as follows:

(1) Reclaimed water may be beneficially used for discharge into ((~~created~~)) constructed beneficial use wetlands and constructed treatment wetlands provided the reclaimed water meets the class A or B reclaimed water standards as defined in the reclamation criteria, and the discharge is incorporated into a sewer or water comprehensive plan, as applicable, adopted by the applicable local government and approved by the department of health or department of ecology as applicable.

(2) Reclaimed water that does not meet the class A or B reclaimed water standards may be beneficially used for discharge into ((~~created~~)) constructed treatment wetlands where the department of ecology, in consultation with the department of health, has specifically authorized such use at such lower standards ((~~in conjunction with a pilot project designated pursuant to this chapter, the purpose of which is to test and implement the use of created wetlands for advanced treatment~~)).

(3) The department of ecology and the department of health must develop appropriate standards for discharging reclaimed water into constructed beneficial use wetlands and constructed treatment wetlands. These standards must be considered as part of the approval process under subsections (1) and (2) of this section.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 4. A new section is added to chapter 90.46 RCW to read as follows:

(1) The department of health shall develop standards, procedures, and guidelines for the reuse of greywater, consistent with RCW 43.20.230(2), by January 1, 1998.

(2) Standards, procedures, and guidelines developed by the department of health for reuse of greywater shall encourage the application of this technology for conserving water resources, or reducing the wastewater load, on domestic wastewater facilities, individual on-site sewage treatment and disposal systems, or community on-site sewage treatment and disposal systems.

(3) The department of health and local health officers may permit the reuse of greywater according to rules adopted by the department of health.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 5. A new section is added to chapter 90.48 RCW to read as follows:

The evaluation of any plans submitted under RCW 90.48.110 must include consideration of opportunities for the use of reclaimed water as defined in RCW 90.46.010.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 6. The department of ecology and the department of health shall report on the progress of the implementation of chapter 342, Laws of 1995, as amended by chapter . . ., Laws of 1997 (this act) to the members of the agriculture and ecology committee of the house of representatives and the members of the agriculture and environment committee of the senate by December 15, 1997.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 7. If any provision of this act or its application to any person or circumstance is held invalid, the remainder of the act or the application of the provision to other persons or circumstances is not affected.