SB 5925-S - DIGEST

(DIGEST AS ENACTED)

     Finds that the agricultural processing industry can play a critical and beneficial role in promoting the efficient use of water by having the opportunity to develop and reuse agricultural industrial reclaimed water from food processing.

     Declares that the permit to apply agricultural industrial process water to agricultural water use shall be the permit issued under chapter 90.48 RCW to the owner of the agricultural processing plant who may then distribute the water through methods including, but not limited to, irrigation systems, subject to provisions in the permit governing the location, rate, water quality, and purpose.

     Provides that, in cases where the department of ecology determines that a significant risk to public health exists, in land application of the water, the department must refer the application to the department of health for review and consultation.

     Declares that the owner of the agricultural processing plant who obtains a permit under this section has the exclusive right to the use of any agricultural industrial process water generated from the plant and to the distribution of such water through facilities including irrigation systems.  Use and distribution of the water by the owner is exempt from the permit requirements of RCW 90.03.250, 90.03.380, 90.44.060, and 90.44.100.

     Declares that agricultural water use of agricultural industrial process water under this act shall not impair existing water rights within the water source that is the source of supply for the agricultural processing plant and, if the water source is surface water, the existing water rights are downstream from the agricultural processing plant's discharge points existing on the effective date of this act.