BILL REQ. #:  H-4029.2 

Read first time 01/16/2006.   Referred to Committee on Economic Development, Agriculture & Trade.

     AN ACT Relating to reclaimed water; amending RCW 90.46.050, 90.46.030, 90.46.040, 90.46.042, 90.46.044, 90.46.080, 90.46.090, and 90.46.100; adding a new section to chapter 90.46 RCW; and creating a new section.

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

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 1   A new section is added to chapter 90.46 RCW to read as follows:
     (1) The department of ecology shall, in coordination with the department of health, adopt rules for reclaimed water use consistent with this chapter. The rules must address all aspects of reclaimed water use, including commercial and industrial uses, land applications, direct recharge, wetland discharge, surface percolation, constructed wetlands, stream flow augmentation, and greywater use. In developing the rules, the department of ecology shall amend or rescind any existing rules on reclaimed water in conflict with the new rules.
     (2) All rules required to be adopted pursuant to this section must be completed no later than December 31, 2010.
     (3) The department of ecology must consult with the advisory committee created under RCW 90.46.050 in all aspects of rule development required under this section.

Sec. 2   RCW 90.46.050 and 1995 c 342 s 9 are each amended to read as follows:
     The department of ((health)) ecology shall, before ((July 1, 1995)) December 1, 2006, form an advisory committee, in coordination with the department of ((ecology)) health and the department of agriculture, which will provide technical assistance in the development of standards, procedures, and guidelines required by this chapter. ((Such)) The advisory committee shall be composed of individuals from the public water and wastewater utilities, landscaping enhancement industry, commercial and industrial application community, and any other persons deemed technically helpful by the department of ((health)) ecology.

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 3   The department of ecology must present interim reports to the appropriate committees of the legislature by January 1, 2008, and January 1, 2009, that summarize the steps taken to that date towards the final rule making required by section 1 of this act. The reports must include, at a minimum, a summary of participation in the advisory group and the topics considered by the department.

Sec. 4   RCW 90.46.030 and 2005 c 59 s 1 are each amended to read as follows:
     (1)(a) The department of health shall, in coordination with the department of ecology, adopt a single set of standards, procedures, and guidelines on or before August 1, 1993, for the industrial and commercial use of reclaimed water.
     (b) Standards adopted under this section are superseded by any rules adopted by the department of ecology pursuant to section 1 of this act as they relate to the industrial and commercial use of reclaimed water.
     (2) Until the department of ecology adopts rules pursuant to section 1 of this act that relate to the industrial and commercial use of reclaimed water, the department of health may issue a reclaimed water permit for industrial and commercial uses of reclaimed water to the generator of reclaimed water who may then distribute the water, subject to provisions in the permit governing the location, rate, water quality, and purposes of use. Permits issued after the adoption of rules under section 1 of this act must be consistent with the adopted rules.
     (3) The department of health in consultation with the advisory committee established in RCW 90.46.050, shall develop recommendations for a fee structure for permits issued under subsection (2) of this section. Fees shall be established in amounts to fully recover, and not exceed, expenses incurred by the department of health in processing permit applications and modifications, monitoring and evaluating compliance with permits, and conducting inspections and supporting the reasonable overhead expenses that are directly related to these activities. Permit fees may not be used for research or enforcement activities. The department of health shall not issue permits under this section until a fee structure has been established, or after the rules required by section 1 of this act have been adopted.
     (4) A permit under this section for use of reclaimed water may be issued only to:
     (a) A municipal, quasi-municipal, or other governmental entity;
     (b) A private utility as defined in RCW 36.94.010; or
     (c) The holder of a waste discharge permit issued under chapter 90.48 RCW.
     (5) The authority and duties created in this section are in addition to any authority and duties already provided in law with regard to sewage and wastewater collection, treatment, and disposal for the protection of health and safety of the state's waters. Nothing in this section limits the powers of the state or any political subdivision to exercise such authority.
     (6) Until the department of ecology adopts rules pursuant to section 1 of this act that relate to the industrial and commercial use of reclaimed water, the department of health may implement the requirements of this section through the department of ecology by execution of a formal agreement between the departments. ((Upon execution of such an agreement)) After the rules required by section 1 of this act are adopted, the department of ecology may issue reclaimed water permits for industrial and commercial uses of reclaimed water by issuance of permits under chapter 90.48 RCW, and may establish and collect fees as required for permits issued under chapter 90.48 RCW.
     (7) Until the department of ecology adopts rules pursuant to section 1 of this act that relate to the industrial and commercial use of reclaimed water, and before deciding whether to issue a permit under this section to a private utility, the department of health may require information that is reasonable and necessary to determine whether the private utility has the financial and other resources to ((assure)) ensure the reliability, continuity, and supervision of the reclaimed water facility.

Sec. 5   RCW 90.46.040 and 2005 c 59 s 2 are each amended to read as follows:
     (1)(a) The department of ecology shall, in coordination with the department of health, adopt a single set of standards, procedures, and guidelines, on or before August 1, 1993, for land applications of reclaimed water.
     (b) Standards adopted under this section are superseded by any rules adopted by the department of ecology pursuant to section 1 of this act as they relate to the land application of reclaimed water.
     (2) A permit is required for any land application of reclaimed water. The department of ecology may issue a reclaimed water permit under chapter 90.48 RCW to the generator of reclaimed water who may then distribute the water, subject to provisions in the permit governing the location, rate, water quality, and purpose of use. The department of ecology shall not issue more than one permit for any individual land application of reclaimed water to a single generator.
     (3) In cases where the department of ecology determines, in land applications of reclaimed water, that a significant risk to the public health exists, the department shall refer the application to the department of health for review and consultation and the department of health may require fees appropriate for review and consultation from the applicant pursuant to RCW 43.70.250.
     (4) A permit under this section for use of reclaimed water may be issued only to:
     (a) A municipal, quasi-municipal, or other governmental entity;
     (b) A private utility as defined under RCW 36.94.010; or
     (c) The holder of a waste discharge permit issued under chapter 90.48 RCW.
     (5) The authority and duties created in this section are in addition to any authority and duties already provided in law. Nothing in this section limits the powers of the state or any political subdivision to exercise such authority.
     (6) Before deciding whether to issue a permit under this section to a private utility, the department of ecology may require information that is reasonable and necessary to determine whether the private utility has the financial and other resources to ((assure)) ensure the reliability, continuity, and supervision of the reclaimed water facility.

Sec. 6   RCW 90.46.042 and 1995 c 342 s 6 are each amended to read as follows:
     (1) The department of ecology shall, in consultation with the department of health, adopt a single set of standards, procedures, and guidelines, on or before December 31, 1996, for direct recharge using reclaimed water. The standards shall address both water quality considerations and avoidance of property damage from excessive recharge.
     (2) Standards adopted under this section are superseded by any rules adopted by the department of ecology pursuant to section 1 of this act as they relate to direct recharge using reclaimed water.

Sec. 7   RCW 90.46.044 and 1995 c 342 s 7 are each amended to read as follows:
     (1) The department of ecology shall, in consultation with the department of health, adopt a single set of standards, procedures, and guidelines, on or before June 30, 1996, for discharge of reclaimed water to wetlands.
     (2) Standards adopted under this section are superseded by any rules adopted by the department of ecology pursuant to section 1 of this act as they relate to discharge of reclaimed water to wetlands.

Sec. 8   RCW 90.46.080 and 1997 c 444 s 6 are each amended to read as follows:
     (1) Except as otherwise provided in this section, reclaimed water may be beneficially used for surface percolation provided the reclaimed water meets the ground water recharge criteria as measured in ground water beneath or down gradient of the recharge project site, and has been incorporated into a sewer or water comprehensive plan, as applicable, adopted by the applicable local government and approved by the department of health or department of ecology as applicable.
     (2) If the state ground water recharge criteria as defined by RCW 90.46.010 do not contain a standard for a constituent or contaminant, the department of ecology shall establish a discharge limit consistent with the goals of this chapter, except as otherwise provided in this section.
     (3) Except as otherwise provided in this section, reclaimed water that does not meet the ground water recharge criteria may be beneficially used for surface percolation where the department of ecology, in consultation with the department of health, has specifically authorized such use at such lower standard.
     (4) The provisions of this section are superseded by any rules adopted by the department of ecology pursuant to section 1 of this act as they relate to surface percolation.

Sec. 9   RCW 90.46.090 and 1997 c 444 s 7 are each amended to read as follows:
     (1) Reclaimed water may be beneficially used for discharge into constructed beneficial use wetlands and constructed treatment wetlands provided the reclaimed water meets the class A or B reclaimed water standards as defined in the reclamation criteria, and the discharge is incorporated into a sewer or water comprehensive plan, as applicable, adopted by the applicable local government and approved by the department of health or department of ecology as applicable.
     (2) Reclaimed water that does not meet the class A or B reclaimed water standards may be beneficially used for discharge into constructed treatment wetlands where the department of ecology, in consultation with the department of health, has specifically authorized such use at such lower standards.
     (3)(a) The department of ecology and the department of health must develop appropriate standards for discharging reclaimed water into constructed beneficial use wetlands and constructed treatment wetlands. These standards must be considered as part of the approval process under subsections (1) and (2) of this section.
     (b) Standards adopted under this section are superseded by any rules adopted by the department of ecology pursuant to section 1 of this act as they relate to discharge into constructed beneficial use wetlands and constructed treatment wetlands.

Sec. 10   RCW 90.46.100 and 1995 c 342 s 5 are each amended to read as follows:
     (1) Reclaimed water intended for beneficial reuse may be discharged for streamflow augmentation provided the reclaimed water meets the requirements of the federal water pollution control act, chapter 90.48 RCW, and is incorporated into a sewer or water comprehensive plan, as applicable, adopted by the applicable local government and approved by the department of health or department of ecology as applicable.
     (2) Standards adopted under this section are superseded by any rules adopted by the department of ecology pursuant to section 1 of this act as they relate to discharge of reclaimed water for streamflow augmentation.