AWWA SOURCES59220

In 1992, The Washington State Legislature promulgated the Reclaimed Water Use Act(Chapter 90.46 RCW). This legislation ushered in a new era of integrated water andwastewater management to meet the growing water demands of our state. The legislaturedirected the Department of Ecology (Ecology) to encourage water reuse, to establishstandards in consultation with the state Department of Health, to build on the workalready done in other states that have successful programs, and to streamlineimplementation (permitting) processes. The initial standards were modeled after otherstates, primarily California, and finalized in 1997. Washington also funded fivedemonstration projects within the state to provide experience necessary to test variousfacets of the new standards. There are currently 17 projects in operation withapproximately 20 more in various stages of planning, design or construction.As the primary permitting and funding agency, Ecology has struggled in thisimplementation phase. Constraints on the agency include limited staff, limited funding,the shift from the previous way of doing business, the complexity and diversity of theproposed projects, and limited dollars for infrastructure funding. In addition, the programneeds to relate to the specific and unique requirements of Washington State, includingvaried climate, geology, economy, protection of instream flows for salmonids, wetlands,and numerous small communities.The state is currently in the process of identifying and determining how to bestimplement our priorities. These challenges include technical, social, public health,environmental, economic, financial and legal issues. This paper addresses the experienceof Washington State in implementing this program and the steps we are taking to build afoundation for future success. It is designed to provide a model to help other statesthrough their own journey of customizing water reclamation and reuse to meet theirneeds. Includes 13 references, tables.

Product Details

Edition:

Vol. - No.

Published:

01/11/2004

Number of Pages:

14

File Size:

1 file , 310 KB