Regulators Push Water Reuse In Drought-Plagued Washington State

Regulators in drought-plagued Washington State are trying to peel back obstacles to water reuse and encourage the practice.

The Washington Department of Ecology is writing a new rule aimed at increasing water reuse in the state. Director Maia Bellon explained the impetus for the new regulation.

“This proposal gives our state an additional tool to reduce the impacts of water shortages and drought conditions in the future,” she said. “This is part of our broader initiative to prepare for climate change, while also protecting the health of our waters and preserving our diminishing water supplies.”

The rule will include the following components, as bulleted in a department announcement:

• A single permit for the production, distribution and use of reclaimed water.
• Definitions of reclaimed water that protect public health.
• A process to define and potentially resolve water rights issues.
• A requirement for all currently operating reclaimed water facilities to come into compliance with the new regulations that includes flexibility.

Washington State is facing drought conditions this year due to low snowpack, falling river levels, and rising temperatures. Governor Jay Inslee declared a statewide drought emergency in May, according to ThinkProgress.

“Sectors that rely heavily on melting snowpack, like agriculture and wildlife, are expected to be hit hardest by the drought, with the Washington Department of Agriculture anticipating $1.2 billion in crop losses this year,” the report said.

Bellon noted that the drought is historically unusual for this state.

“This drought is unlike any we've ever experienced. Rain amounts have been normal but snow has been scarce. And we’re watching what little snow we have quickly disappear,” she said, per an announcement from the governor’s office.