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Hinkle's 'reclaimed water'
legislation signed into law
Today Gov. Gregoire signed
House Bill 1891 into law, a move that requires the state to begin
issuing reclaimed water permits to privately owned entities.
Rep.
Bill Hinkle, R-Cle Elum, sponsored the legislation.
“This is a significant and positive change in our state’s water policy,
and will be especially helpful for farmers and ranchers in the 13th
District and other parts of Central and Eastern Washington,” Hinkle
explained. “Even though it’s been raining lately, our water supply is
still far below normal. This new law will help supply farmers, ranchers
and growers with the water they need for irrigation. It will also help
us have the water we need for other uses, including firefighting and
recreation.”
Reclaimed water is recycled, non-potable water produced by wastewater
treatment systems. It is used for a variety of purposes, including
irrigation, fire suppression, stream flow augmentation, industrial,
agricultural, recreational and other uses.
It is written in Washington state law that, “…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, stated
that reclaimed water permits could only be issued to municipal,
quasi-municipal or other government entities. Therefore the state
departments of Health and Ecology would only issue permits to public –
not private – entities to own and operate water reclamation facilities.
With the passage of House Bill 1891 into law, the state will also issue
reclaimed water permits to private utilities so they can provide
sewerage and/or water services to open and operate facilities to provide
reclaimed water.
Mark Nelson, Clint Perry and Chad Bala with Terra Design Works, a land
planning firm located in Ronald, came to Olympia today to participate in
the bill signing ceremony.
“The passage of this bill will promote the use of new technologies that
will conserve potable water and protect the environment,” Nelson noted.
In addition to HB 1891 being signed into law today, House Bill 1003,
Hinkle’s bill that would allow off-road vehicles (ORVs) to operate on
non-highway roads with the agreement of the landowner, passed the Senate
this morning and is on its way to the governor for signature.
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For more information, contact:
John Handy, Assistant
Communications Director - (360) 786-5758
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