Z-0276

AN ACT Relating to revising the definition of public water system to include systems providing water through constructed conveyances, in conformance with federal law; amending RCW 70.119A.020; and creating a new section.

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

NEW SECTION. Sec. 1. The legislature finds and declares that the provision of safe and reliable water supplies is essential to public health and the continued economic vitality of the state of Washington. Maintaining the authority necessary to ensure safe and reliable water supplies requires that state laws conform with the provisions of the federal safe drinking water act. It is the intent of the legislature that the definition of public water system be amended to reflect recent amendments to the federal safe drinking water act.

Sec. 2. RCW 70.119A.020 and 1994 c 252 s 2 are each amended to read as follows:

Unless the context clearly requires otherwise, the following definitions apply throughout this chapter:

(1) "Department" means the department of health.

(2) "Local board of health" means the city, town, county, or district board of health.

(3) "Local health jurisdiction" means an entity created under chapter 70.05, 70.08, or 70.46 RCW which provides public health services to persons within the area.

(4) "Public water system" means any system, excluding a system serving only one single-family residence and a system with four or fewer connections all of which serve residences on the same farm, providing ((~~piped~~)) water for human consumption through pipes or other constructed conveyances, including any collection, treatment, storage, or distribution facilities under control of the purveyor and used primarily in connection with the system; and collection or pretreatment storage facilities not under control of the purveyor but primarily used in connection with the system, including:

(a) Any collection, treatment, storage, and distribution facilities under control of the purveyor and used primarily in connection with such system; and

(b) Any collection or pretreatment storage facilities not under control of the purveyor which are primarily used in connection with such system.

(5) "Order" means a written direction to comply with a provision of the regulations adopted under RCW 43.20.050(2)(a) or 70.119.050 or to take an action or a series of actions to comply with the regulations.

(6) "Purveyor" means any agency or subdivision of the state or any municipal corporation, firm, company, mutual or cooperative association, institution, partnership, or person or any other entity, that owns or operates a public water system. It also means the authorized agents of any such entities.

(7) "Regulations" means rules adopted to carry out the purposes of this chapter.

(8) "Federal safe drinking water act" means the federal safe drinking water act, 42 U.S.C. Sec. 300f et seq., as now in effect or hereafter amended.

(9) "Area-wide waivers" means a waiver granted by the department as a result of a geographically based testing program meeting required provisions of the federal safe drinking water act.

(10) "Local health officer" means the legally qualified physician who has been appointed as the health officer for the city, town, county, or district public health department.

(11) "Person" includes, but is not limited to, natural persons, municipal corporations, governmental agencies, firms, companies, mutual or cooperative associations, institutions, and partnerships. It also means the authorized agents of any such entities.

(12) "Public health emergency" means a declaration by an authorized health official of a situation in which either illness, or exposure known to cause illness, is occurring or is imminent.

(13) "Secretary" means the secretary of the department of health.

(14) "State board of health" is the board created by RCW 43.20.030.