BILL REQ. #:  S-1284.1 

Read first time 02/15/11.   Referred to Committee on Environment, Water & Energy.

     AN ACT Relating to the allowance of point-of-entry and point-of-use treatment in public water systems in certain circumstances; adding a new section to chapter 70.119A RCW; and creating a new section.

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

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 1   Many small public water systems in Washington are facing higher expenses, failing infrastructure, a falloff in state and federal aid, and more difficulty with borrowing money as a result of the economic downturn. It is the intent of the legislature to provide small public water systems with short-term options to meet public health requirements.

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 2   A new section is added to chapter 70.119A RCW to read as follows:
     (1) A public water system may allow the use of point-of-entry and point-of-use treatment in lieu of centralized treatment where it can be demonstrated that centralized treatment is not immediately economically feasible. Use of point-of-entry and point-of-use treatment is limited to the following:
     (a) Water systems with less than two hundred service connections;
     (b) Usage is allowed under the federal safe drinking water act and its implementing regulations and guidance; and
     (c) Water systems have submitted requests to the department for funding to correct the violations for which the point-of-entry and point-of-use treatment is provided.
     (2) The department shall not issue a permit to a public water system or amend a valid existing permit to allow the use of point-of-entry or point-of-use treatment unless the department determines, after conducting a public hearing in the community served by the public water system, that there is no substantial community opposition to the installation of point-of-entry or point-of-use treatment devices. The issuance of a permit is limited to not more than three years or until funding for centralized treatment is available, whichever occurs first.
     (3) The definitions in this subsection apply throughout this section unless the context clearly requires otherwise.
     (a) "Point-of-entry treatment" means a device for the treatment of potable water that is located at the water service entry in a building.
     (b) "Point-of-use treatment" means a device for the treatment of potable water that is located at the water tap in a building.