Conservation now required for water utilities

New regulations now require water utilities to conserve water to avoid a water supply crisis in the future.

The regulations, prepared by the Washington State Department of Health, will help communities meet their water needs.

“It once seemed Washington had so much water we’d never run out. Not so today,” said Denise Clifford, director of the agency’s Office of Drinking Water. “If we want fresh water to drink, abundant fish in the streams, and a vibrant, healthy economy, we all have to watch how much water we use. These new rules will help make sure there’s enough to go around.”

Many water utilities already have conservation programs in place. The 2003 Legislature directed the Department of Health to develop regulations to assure that all water suppliers use water as efficiently as possible. “Working with utilities, environmental groups, businesses and others, we’ve developed a fair, workable set of regulations,” said Clifford.

The new regulations will affect about 2,300 municipal water suppliers in Washington that serve 15 or more residential connections.

The rules require utilities to maintain pipes and other infrastructure to reduce leakage to 10 percent or less. Utilities must also:

• Prepare plans for efficiently using water;

• Set water-use goals in a public forum;

• Install meters within 10 years if not already installed;

• Report yearly on water use, leakage and progress toward meeting their goals.

The Town of Cathlamet and Wahkiakum PUD will address the issue in the management plans for their systems.

"The Town and its engineering consultant, Gray & Osborne, are aware of the mandates and will address each one in the 2007-2013 Water Plan, now partially completed," Cathlamet Mayor Dick Swart said."We will offer the public an opportunity to comment as required by state law."

According to Swart, the PUD and the town agreed in 2005 to put their plan cycles on the same time tracks to save on engineering and administrative costs in preparing their respective plans.

The regulations can be found online from the “Featured Topics” section of the agency’s Web site www.doh.wa.gov; a printed copy can be ordered by calling 360-236-3147.