AN
ACT Relating to a reclaimed water demonstration program; amending RCW
90.46.005; and adding a new section to chapter 90.46 RCW.
BE IT
ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON:
Sec.
1. RCW
90.46.005 and 1995 c 342 s 1 are each amended to read as follows:
The
legislature finds that by encouraging the use of reclaimed water while assuring
the health and safety of all Washington citizens and the protection of its
environment, the state of Washington will continue to use water in the best
interests of present and future generations.
To
facilitate the use of reclaimed water as soon as is practicable, the
legislature encourages the cooperative efforts of the public and private
sectors and the use of pilot projects to effectuate the goals of this chapter.
The legislature further directs the department of health and the department of
ecology to coordinate efforts towards developing an efficient and streamlined
process for creating and implementing processes for the use of reclaimed water.
It
is hereby declared that the people of the state of Washington have a primary
interest in the development of facilities to provide reclaimed water to replace
potable water in nonpotable applications, to supplement existing surface and
ground water supplies, and to assist in meeting the future water requirements
of the state.
The
legislature further finds and declares that the utilization of reclaimed water
by local communities for domestic, agricultural, industrial, recreational, and
fish and wildlife habitat creation and enhancement purposes, including wetland
enhancement, will contribute to the peace, health, safety, and welfare of the
people of the state of Washington. To the extent reclaimed water is
appropriate for beneficial uses, it should be so used to preserve potable water
for drinking purposes. Use of reclaimed water constitutes the development of
new basic water supplies needed for future generations.
The
legislature further finds and declares that the use of reclaimed water is not
inconsistent with the policy of antidegradation of state waters announced in
other state statutes, including the water pollution control act, chapter 90.48
RCW and the water resources act, chapter 90.54 RCW.
The
legislature finds that other states, including California, Florida, and
Arizona, have successfully used reclaimed water to supplement existing water
supplies without threatening existing resources or public health.
It
is the intent of the legislature that the department of ecology and the
department of health undertake the necessary steps to encourage the development
of water reclamation facilities so that reclaimed water may be made available
to help meet the growing water requirements of the state.
The
legislature further finds and declares that reclaimed water facilities are
water pollution control facilities as defined in chapter 70.146 RCW and are
eligible for financial assistance as provided in chapter 70.146 RCW. The
legislature finds that funding demonstration projects will ensure the future
use of reclaimed water. The demonstration projects in section 2 of this act
are varied in nature and will provide the experience necessary to test
different facets of the standards and refine a variety of technologies so that
water purveyors can begin to use reclaimed water technology in a more
cost-effective manner. This is especially critical in smaller cities and
communities where the feasibility for such projects is great, but there are
scarce resources to develop the necessary facilities.
NEW
SECTION. Sec. 2. A
new section is added to chapter 90.46 RCW to read as follows:
(1)
The department of ecology shall establish and administer a reclaimed water
demonstration program for the purposes of funding and monitoring the progress
of five demonstration projects. The department shall work in cooperation with
the department of health.
(2)
The five demonstration projects will be:
(a)
The city of Ephrata, to use class A reclaimed water for surface spreading that
will recharge the groundwater and reduce the nitrate concentrations that
currently exceed drinking water standards in domestic wells;
(b)
Lincoln county, for a study of the use of reclaimed water to transport
twenty-two million gallons a day from Spokane to water sources that will
rehydrate and restore long depleted streambeds;
(c)
The city of Royal City to replace an interim emergency sprayfield by using one
hundred percent of its discharge as class A reclaimed water to enhance local
wetlands and lakes in the winter, and potentially irrigate a golf course;
(d)
The city of Sequim to implement a tertiary treatment system and reuse one hundred
percent of the city's wastewater to reopen an existing shellfish closure area
to benefit state and tribal resources, improve streamflows in the Dungeness
river, and provide a sustainable water supply for irrigation purposes;
(e)
The city of Yelm to use one hundred percent of its wastewater to provide
alternative water supply for irrigation and industrial uses in order to offset
increased demand for water supply, to protect the Nisqually river chum salmon
runs, and to develop experimental artificial wetlands to test low cost
treatment options.
(3)
By September 30, 1997, the department of ecology shall enter into a grant
agreement with the demonstration project jurisdictions that includes reporting
requirements, timelines, and a fund disbursement schedule based on the agreed
project milestones.
(4)
Upon completion of the projects, the department of ecology shall report to the
appropriate committees of the legislature on the results of the program.
(5)
Demonstration projects which will discharge or otherwise deliver reclaimed
water to federal reclamation project facilities or irrigation district
facilities shall meet the requirements of the facilities' operating entity for
such discharges or deliveries.
(6)
No irrigation district, its directors, officers, employees, or agents operating
and maintaining irrigation works for any purpose authorized by law, including
the production of food for human consumption and other agricultural and
domestic purposes, is liable for damages to persons or property arising from
the implementation of the demonstration projects in this section.
