SENATE BILL REPORT
SB 5925
As Reported By Senate Committee On:
Environment, Energy & Water, February 27, 2001
Title: An act relating to reclaimed water.
Brief Description: Reusing waste water derived from food processing.
Sponsors: Senators Jacobsen, Honeyford, Fraser, Rasmussen and Morton.
Brief History:
Committee Activity: Environment, Energy & Water: 2/20/01, 2/27/01 [DPS].
SENATE COMMITTEE ON ENVIRONMENT, ENERGY & WATER
Majority Report: That Substitute Senate Bill No. 5925 be substituted therefor, and the substitute bill do pass.
Signed by Senators Fraser, Chair; Regala, Vice Chair; Hale, Honeyford, Jacobsen, McDonald, Morton and Patterson.
Staff: Genevieve Pisarski (786‑7488)
Background: Existing law establishes standards, procedures, and guidelines for use of reclaimed water that is derived from sewage from a wastewater treatment system.
Summary of Substitute Bill: ?Agricultural industrial process water@ is treated food product processing water and can be used for irrigation and other agriculture-related uses, including construction and maintenance. The water is used under a wastewater discharge permit. If there is significant health risk associated with the use, the Department of Health is consulted. The generator retains the exclusive right to the water and is not subject to additional water right permitting requirements. The use shall not impair existing water rights within the generator=s source of supply. Water rights that substitute use of reclaimed water are not relinquished.
Substitute Bill Compared to Original Bill: ?Agricultural industrial reclaimed water@ is changed to ?agricultural industrial process water.@ Clarification is added that the wastewater discharge permit is the permit required for agricultural water use of process water. Current reuse of process water is not affected. Existing water rights within the same source of supply cannot be impaired.
Appropriation: None.
Fiscal Note: Available.
Effective Date: Ninety days after adjournment of session in which bill is passed.
Testimony For: Food processors will have the same opportunity to reuse water that municipalities do. The wastewater discharge permits that currently control the quality of the water will continue to apply. There will be fewer undesirable discharges to surface water and less need for new water rights. These benefits offset the effect of less water going instream. Protection of existing water rights should be included. Breweries could be added.
Testimony Against: None.
Testified: PRO: T. K. Bentler, Rick Wickman, Washington Food Processors Council; Tom McDonald, Perkins Coie; Megan White, Department of Ecology; Steve Gano, Miller Brewing.