SENATE BILL REPORT

SB 5314

BYSenators Talmadge and Kiskaddon

Establishing water conservation measures.

Senate Committee on Parks & Ecology

Senate Hearing Date(s):February 18, 1987; February 25, 1987

Majority Report:  That Substitute Senate Bill No. 5314 be substituted therefor, and the substitute bill do pass.

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

Senate Staff:Henry Yates (786-7708)

                  February 26, 1987

AS REPORTED BY COMMITTEE ON PARKS & ECOLOGY, FEBRUARY 25, 1987

BACKGROUND:

Conserving water can be a major factor in the cost of building sewage treatment facilities, water delivery systems and other projects.  Several states have adopted specific water conservation measures and numerous localities have done the same. In Washington, there is no statutory program to specifically address water conservation.

Currently, water conservation requirements for water system plans are administered through the Department of Social and Health Services.  The Department of Ecology requires a number of items to be "discussed" in sewerage plans, but water conservation is not mentioned.  The state has no requirement to use low water consumptive plumbing fixtures.  There has been little attention to innovative water conservation measures such as water reuse, greywater recycling or other methods for saving water.

SUMMARY:

The Department of Social and Health Services develops, by rule, elements relating to water conservation that must be included in water system plans.  The State Building Council is to revise the state plumbing code and require low- volume plumbing fixtures.  The Department of Ecology is to revise rules relating to submission of sewer plans to require a discussion of water conservation measures considered or under way and their impact on public sewer service.  The State Building Council is to evaluate and make necessary changes in the state plumbing code to allow for greywater reuse.  The Department of Social and Health Services, in conjunction with the Department of Ecology, is to develop an overall plan to include guidelines on detection of leaking water distribution systems, water reuse and recycling, pricing and rate structure and necessary measuring of water supplies to achieve water conservation.  Local governments are to incorporate the guidelines into local plans.

EFFECT OF PROPOSED SUBSTITUTE:

Some specific conservation elements included in the water system plans are deleted.  The Department of Social and Health Services reviews and approves water system plans.

The revised plumbing code cannot be more restrictive than the guidelines listed.  Local governments may adopt other codes, provided the statutory code modification process is used.

The Departments of Ecology and Social and Health Services are not to prepare an overall plan on water conservation for all the state's water resources.

Fiscal Note:      requested

Senate Committee - Testified: Doug North, Friends of Whitewater; Mark Triplett, Homebuilders; Bob Wubbena, Water Utility Council; Randy Scott, City of Seattle