HOUSE BILL REPORT

                 ESHB 1999

                       As Passed House

                       March 13, 1993

Title:  An act relating to public water system emergency response requirements.

Brief Description:  Requiring back‑up power for public water systems.

Sponsors:  By House Committee on Energy & Utilities (originally sponsored by Representatives Campbell, Grant, Mastin and Veloria.)

Brief History:

  Reported by House Committee on:

Energy & Utilities, March 2, 1993, DPS;

  Passed House, March 13, 1993, 95-1.

HOUSE COMMITTEE ON ENERGY & UTILITIES

Majority Report:  The substitute bill be substituted therefor and the substitute bill do pass.  Signed by 8 members:  Representatives Grant, Chair; Finkbeiner, Vice Chair; Casada, Ranking Minority Member; Miller, Assistant Ranking Minority Member; Johanson; Kessler; Long; and Ludwig.

Minority Report:  Without recommendation.  Signed by 1 member:  Representative Kremen.

Staff:  Harry Reinert (786-7110).

Background:  The state Board of Health regulates public water systems in the state.  A public water system is any system having two or more connections.  The board's rules are required to include provision for emergency response.  The board's rules require a public water system to provide an "adequate quantity and quality of water in a reliable manner at all times."  The system is also required to ensure that "the system is constructed, operated, and maintained to protect against failures of power supply ...."

Summary of Bill:  The state Board of Health shall include, in its rules, provisions requiring public water systems to be able to maintain an adequate supply and quality of water during a power outage or natural disaster.  The provisions shall make allowances for the size and nature of public water systems and for the financial impacts of the provisions on the systems.  The rules may not apply to public water systems with fewer than 100 connections owned by a non-profit association.

The Board of Health rules shall also provide a process for acquisition of water systems by public water districts.

Fiscal Note:  Requested February 23, 1993.

Effective Date:  Ninety days after adjournment of session in which bill is passed.

Testimony For:  The recent wind storm left many home owners without a vital necessity, water.  Public water systems should be required to make provisions to be able to meet these types of circumstances.

Testimony Against:  (Original Bill) The cost of providing back-up power can be quite expensive for very small water systems.  There may be better ways of meeting the objectives of the bill without requiring back-up power.  These requirements may not be appropriate for large systems.

Witnesses:  Rep. Tom Campbell, prime sponsor (pro); William Hawn, Kitsap County PUD (con, original bill); Richard Junk, Woodland Park Water Association (pro); Dave Clark, Department of Health (pro); Greg Hanon, Tacoma Public Utilities (con, original bill); and Bill Scott, citizen (con, original bill).