Signed by Governor Jay Inslee

Vote Smart's Synopsis:

Vote to pass a bill that authorizes rural landowners to tap permit-exempt wells while local committees are developing water use plans, among other provisions, effective January 19, 2018.

Highlights:

• Authorizes state authorities, counties, and cities to impose additional requirements for rural wells, including conditions for building permits that require connection to an existing public water system that provides safe and reliable potable water (Sec. 101).

• Exempts buildings that do not need potable water facilities from this provision (Sec. 101).

• Specifies that the Department of Ecology will lead the watershed restoration and enhancement committee which will have representation from each of the federally recognized Indian tribes located throughout the state (Sec. 203).

• Specifies that by June 30, 2021 the Department of Ecology shall prepare and adopt a watershed restoration and enhancement plan for the state that is in collaboration with the watershed restoration and enhancement committee (Sec. 203).

• Requires the watershed restoration and enhancement plan to include those actions that the committee determines is necessary in order to offset potential impacts to the instream flows that are associated with permit-exempt domestic water use (Sec. 203).

• Establishes a joint legislative task force on water resource mitigation to review the treatment of surface water and groundwater appropriations as they relate to instream flows and fish habitat that will first meet at a date no later than June 30, 2018 (Sec. 301).

Full Bill Text

Vote Smart's Synopsis:

Vote to pass a bill that authorizes rural landowners to tap permit-exempt wells while local committees are developing water use plans, among other provisions, effective January 19, 2018.

Highlights:

• Authorizes state authorities, counties, and cities to impose additional requirements for rural wells, including conditions for building permits that require connection to an existing public water system that provides safe and reliable potable water (Sec. 101).

• Exempts buildings that do not need potable water facilities from this provision (Sec. 101).

• Specifies that the Department of Ecology will lead the watershed restoration and enhancement committee which will have representation from each of the federally recognized Indian tribes located throughout the state (Sec. 203).

• Specifies that by June 30, 2021 the Department of Ecology shall prepare and adopt a watershed restoration and enhancement plan for the state that is in collaboration with the watershed restoration and enhancement committee (Sec. 203).

• Requires the watershed restoration and enhancement plan to include those actions that the committee determines is necessary in order to offset potential impacts to the instream flows that are associated with permit-exempt domestic water use (Sec. 203).

• Establishes a joint legislative task force on water resource mitigation to review the treatment of surface water and groundwater appropriations as they relate to instream flows and fish habitat that will first meet at a date no later than June 30, 2018 (Sec. 301).

Full Bill Text