S-120                 _______________________________________________

                                                   SENATE BILL NO. 5282

                        _______________________________________________

State of Washington                               51st Legislature                              1989 Regular Session

By Senators Saling and Metcalf

Read first time 1/20/89 and referred to Committee on   Environment & Natural Resources.

AN ACT Relating to public water supply systems; and amending RCW 70.142.010 and 57.08.012.

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

        Sec. 1.  Section 1, chapter 187, Laws of 1984 and RCW 70.142.010 are each amended to read as follows:

          (1) (a) A public water supply system as defined in RCW 70.119.020 may not introduce any chemical into its water other than a chemical required to test or make the water safe for human consumption.  A public water supply system operated by a municipal corporation or quasi-municipal corporation may introduce a chemical or chemicals into its water if a majority of electors of the municipal corporation or quasi-municipal corporation, voting on a ballot proposition to add a chemical or chemicals, approve the proposition.  A public water supply system operated by a private company or association may introduce a chemical or chemicals into its water if a petition in favor of the addition of a chemical or chemicals is signed by a majority of users who are billed for the use of the system and is submitted to the company or association and filed with the auditor of the county in which a majority of the users billed for the use of the system reside.

(b) Subsection (1)(a) of this section does not prohibit a public water supply system from continuing to introduce chemicals which it initially introduced on or prior to July 31, 1989, and does not prohibit a public water supply system which purchased its water on or prior to that date from another public water supply system which introduced chemicals into its water from continuing to purchase its water from the same source.

(c) If a user of a public water supply system is allergic to a chemical introduced into the water or cannot drink the water for other medical reasons, the user may qualify for a reduction of up to one-half the minimum monthly user charge, as determined by the operator of the system.  The medical condition must be substantiated by a statement from a physician or osteopathic physician.

(2) (a) In order to protect public health from chemical contaminants in drinking water, the state board of health shall conduct public hearings and, where technical data allow, establish by rule standards for allowable concentrations.  For purposes of this chapter, the words "chemical contaminants" are limited to synthetic organic chemical contaminants and to any other contaminants which in the opinion of the board constitute a threat to public health.  If adequate data to support setting of a standard is available, the state board of health shall adopt by rule a maximum contaminant level for water provided to consumers' taps.  Standards set for contaminants known to be toxic shall consider both short-term and chronic toxicity.  Standards set for contaminants known to be carcinogenic shall be consistent with risk levels established by the state board of health.

          (((2))) (b) The board shall consider the best available scientific information in establishing the standards.  The board may review and revise the standards.  State and local standards for chemical contaminants may be more strict than the federal standards.

        Sec. 2.  Section 2, chapter 11, Laws of 1988 and RCW 57.08.012 are each amended to read as follows:

          ((A water district by a majority vote of its board of commissioners may fluoridate the water supply system of the water district.))  The board of commissioners of a water district may cause the proposition of fluoridation of the water supply to be submitted to the electors of the water district at any general election or special election to be called for the purpose of voting on the proposition.  The proposition must be approved by a majority of the electors voting on the proposition to become effective.