BILL REQ. #:  S-1475.2 

Read first time 02/16/11.   Referred to Committee on Environment, Water & Energy.

     AN ACT Relating to the allowance of point-of-entry and point-of-use treatment in public water systems in certain circumstances; adding a new section to chapter 70.119A RCW; and creating a new section.

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

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 1   Many small public water systems in Washington are facing higher expenses, failing infrastructure, a falloff in state and federal aid, and more difficulty with borrowing money as a result of the economic downturn. It is the intent of the legislature to provide small public water systems with short-term options to meet public health requirements.

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 2   A new section is added to chapter 70.119A RCW to read as follows:
     (1) A public water system may allow the use of point-of-entry and point-of-use treatment in lieu of centralized treatment where it can be demonstrated that centralized treatment is not immediately economically feasible. Use of point-of-entry and point-of-use treatment is limited to the following:
     (a) Water systems with less than two hundred service connections;
     (b) Usage is allowed under the federal safe drinking water act and its implementing regulations and guidance;
     (c) The estimated cost to install centralized treatment exceeds one percent of the median household income for the community;
     (d) The point-of-entry or point-of-use treatment is independently certified by the American national standards institute, or its successor organization, and is operated and maintained by the water system; and
     (e) The point-of-entry or point-of-use treatment is equipped with a mechanical warning system and equipped with a totalizing flow meter.
     (2) The department shall not issue a permit to a public water system or amend a valid existing permit to allow the use of point-of-entry or point-of-use treatment unless the department determines, after conducting a public hearing in the community served by the public water system, that there is no substantial community opposition to the installation of point-of-entry or point-of-use treatment devices. The issuance of a permit is limited to not more than three years or until funding for centralized treatment is available, whichever occurs first.
     (3) The department must submit a report to the governor and the legislature on the status of public water systems that are using point-of-entry or point-of-use treatment by November 30, 2019. The report must include the number of public water systems relying on point-of-entry or point-of-use treatment and any recommendations the department has regarding the use of point-of-entry or point-of-use treatment by public water systems.
     (4) The definitions in this subsection apply throughout this section unless the context clearly requires otherwise.
     (a) "Point-of-entry treatment" means a device for the treatment of potable water that is located at the water service entry in a building.
     (b) "Point-of-use treatment" means a device for the treatment of potable water that is located at the water tap in a building.