SENATE BILL REPORT

SB 5303

BYSenators Hansen, Barr, Stratton, Hayner, Patterson and Benitz

Permitting municipalities to discharge from municipal water treatment plants if the intake is from the same body of water as the discharge and water quality standards remain high.

Senate Committee on Parks & Ecology

Senate Hearing Date(s):February 10, 1987; March 3, 1987

Majority Report:  That Substitute Senate Bill No. 5303 be substituted therefor, and the substitute bill do pass.

      Signed by Senators Kreidler, Chairman; Rinehart, Vice Chairman; Bluechel, Hansen, Kiskaddon.

Senate Staff:Henry Yates (786-7708)

                  March 5, 1987

AS REPORTED BY COMMITTEE ON PARKS & ECOLOGY, MARCH 3, 1987

BACKGROUND:

State law requires that regardless of the quality of water or water quality standards, wastes must be treated with all known, available and reasonable methods before being discharged.

Many municipalities in the state, as well as some industrial facilities, extract large quantities of water for drinking and other purposes and clean it through settling then filtration.  Chlorine, alum and polymers are typically added.  The filters are cleaned by washing them with "clean" water.  This water is then placed in a settling pond.  The "settled" material must be taken to a landfill or disposed of using some other acceptable land disposal technique.  Some local governments and industries claim the materials which initially settle and are removed from the filter should be allowed to be put back into the river untreated, because the material was there when the water came into the facility.

Several communities in the state have complied with the requirement that all "known, available and reasonable treatment be used before discharge back into "waters of the state".  Others, specifically, Castle Rock, Longview, Anacortes and Pasco, claim because of cost and the fact that there may not be a water quality benefit, they should not have to comply with this mandate.  Currently, because of pending court appeals or Department of Ecology administrative relief, these communities are not required to treat the filter backwash water through a settling process.  The material that is initially settled from the water taken into the facility is also put back into the river.

SUMMARY:

Standards for discharges from municipal water treatment plants are to be adjusted to reflect credit for substances removed when certain criteria are met.  If the municipality is discharging water to its initial source, a credit may be allowed.  Also, the municipality must demonstrate that water quality standards will not be violated or appreciable environmental degradation result.

EFFECT OF PROPOSED SUBSTITUTE:

Effluent standards for discharges from municipal water treatment plants located on rivers with an annual average flow of 123,000 cubic feet per second shall be adjusted to reflect credit for substances removed from the water plant intake.

Fiscal Note:      requested

Senate Committee - Testified: Gary Crutchfield, Greg Rubstello, Joe Jackson, City of Pasco; Stan Springer, Department of Ecology