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Hinkle bill to increase
availability of reclaimed water gets hearing
Rep.
Bill Hinkle, R-Cle Elum, prime sponsored a bill this legislative
session that would require the state to issue reclaimed water permits to
privately owned entities. House Bill 1891, co-sponsored by both
Republicans and Democrats, had a hearing today in the House Economic
Development, Agriculture and Trade Committee.
“This is an especially important bill for farmers and ranchers in the
13th District and across Central and Eastern Washington,” Hinkle said
today. “We’ve already had an incredibly dry year, and summer is looking
very drought-like. This bill will encourage the development of more
reclaimed water systems so we can save our potable water for drinking
and other vital services.”
Reclaimed water is nonpotable water produced by wastewater treatment
systems. Washington state law encourages local communities to use
reclaimed water for a variety of purposes, including agricultural,
recreational, industrial, irrigation, streamflow augmentation, fire
suppression and other uses.
RCW 90.46.005 plainly
states, “…the legislature encourages the cooperative efforts of the
public and private sectors” to facilitate the use of reclaimed water.
But another state law, RCW 90.46.030, states that reclaimed water
permits can only be issued to municipal, quasi-municipal or other
government entities. Therefore the state departments of Health and
Ecology will only issue permits to public – not private – entities to
own and operate water reclamation facilities.
House Bill 1891 would change the law to add “private utility” to the
list of entities that could receive a reclaimed water permit. This
change would allow private utilities that provide sewerage and/or water
services to open and operate facilities to provide reclaimed water.
“Right now, especially with the weather the way it’s been this year, we
need all the potable water we can get for drinking and other fresh-water
needs,” Hinkle said. “This bill will help us save those supplies and
still meet the needs of farmers, ranchers and outdoor enthusiasts. It’s
good public policy, and will help us for generations to come.”
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For more information, contact:
John Handy, Assistant
Communications Director - (360) 786-5758
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