Washington State House of Representatives Office of Program Research | BILL ANALYSIS |
Agriculture & Natural Resources Committee |
HB 2430
This analysis was prepared by non-partisan legislative staff for the use of legislative members in their deliberations. This analysis is not a part of the legislation nor does it constitute a statement of legislative intent. |
Brief Description: Preserving water resources for an array of water supply needs, including irrigated agriculture, fish and wildlife habitat, and municipal use, by updating water conservation standards for appliances.
Sponsors: Representatives Stanford, Lytton, Tarleton and Fitzgibbon.
Brief Summary of Bill |
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Hearing Date: 1/20/16
Staff: Rebecca Lewis (786-7339).
Background:
Water Conservation Performance Standards.
Washington law sets minimum water conservation performance standards (performance standards) for several categories of plumbing fixtures including: waterclosets; urinals; showerheads; and faucets. The performance standards supersede all local government codes; may not be amended by cities, towns, or counties; and apply to all new construction and remodeling projects which involve replacement of plumbing fixtures.
The State Building Code Council (Council) provides analysis and advice to the Legislature and the Office of the Governor on state building code issues and adopts rules that implement and incorporate the state's performance standards. Updates to the state building code and performance standards are made on a three-year cycle.
Types of Waterclosets.
Flushometer toilets are typically used in institutional, office, or commercial buildings, whereas tank-type toilets are typically used in residential settings. Flushometer toilets have a pressurized water supply with a valve to regulate water between each flush, and include flushometer-valve and flushometer-tank toilets.
Summary of Bill:
The following changes to the performance standards must be implemented by July 1, 2019:
Appliance Type | Previous Standard | Effective | New Standard Effective July 1, 2019 |
Tank-type toilet | 1.6 gpf* | July 1, 1993 | 1.28 gpf |
Flushometer nontank toilet (flushometer-valve) | 3.5 gpf | July 1, 1990 | 1.6 gpf |
Urinals | 1.0 gpf | July 1, 1993 | 0.5 gpf |
Lavatory faucets | 2.5 gpm** | July 1, 1993 | 0.5 gpm |
Kitchen faucets | 2.5 gpm | July 1, 1993 | 2.2 gpm |
Replacement aerators | 2.5 gpm | July 1, 1993 | 2.2 gpm |
*gpf = gallons per flush
**gpm = gallons per minute
A performance standard of 0.26 gallons per cycle is established for metered faucets. Additionally, a performance standard for all flushometer toilets of 1.28 gpf must be effective July 1, 2022.
The Council must adopt rules necessary to implement the new performance standards during the 2018 code adoption process. The performance standards do not apply to alternative technologies that do not rely on water flushing in order to function, such as incineration toilets or composting toilets.
All fixtures, fittings, and toilets except toilets used by children in day-care facilities and toilets in bariatric applications, sold, offered for sale, or distributed in the state must meet the new performance standards by July 1, 2018. A retailer may sell products that do not meet the new standards if they can provide proof that the product was in stock and physically at the retail location prior to July 1, 2018. Such products may be sold until supply is depleted or until January 1, 2019.
References to "flushometer-valve" toilets are changed to "flushometer nontank" toilets.
Appropriation: None.
Fiscal Note: Available.
Effective Date: The bill takes effect 90 days after adjournment of the session in which the bill is passed.