WAC 246-291-140   Water system planning requirements.  (1) Water system plan.

     (a) The water system plan shall:

     (i) Identify present and future needs;

     (ii) Set forth means for meeting those needs; and

     (iii) Do so in a manner consistent with other relevant plans and local, state, and federal laws.

     (b) Owners of the following categories of systems shall ensure the development and submittal of a water system plan for review and approval by the department:

     (i) All systems as required by chapter 70.116 RCW the Public Water System Coordination Act of 1977 and chapter 246-293 WAC;

     (ii) Any system experiencing problems related to planning, operation, and/or management as determined by the department and outlined in a departmental order;

     (iii) Any proposed or expanding system as determined by the department; and

     (iv) Any system which installs treatment, other than simple chlorination disinfection equipment, after the effective date of these regulations.

     (c) A department guideline titled Group B Water System Approval is available from the department to assist owners in developing this plan. Design reports may be combined with a water system plan. To the extent to which they are applicable, the water system plan shall address the following elements:

     (i) Description of system management and ownership;

     (ii) Description of appropriate water quality monitoring and reporting requirements;

     (iii) Service area and identification of existing and proposed major facilities;

     (iv) Maximum number of connections the system can safely and reliably support;

     (v) Water conservation program. Systems which are developed or expanded after the effective date of this rule shall develop a conservation program;

     (vi) Relationship and compatibility with other plans;

     (vii) Description of water source(s) including compliance with applicable source approval and protection under WAC 246-291-100 and 246-291-110;

     (viii) Source protection (including required protective covenants, wellhead protection and watershed control where applicable); and

     (ix) Financial viability.

     (2) Prior to developing a new water system, the developer of the proposed system shall follow the steps listed below as applicable:

     (a) The developer shall ensure that the new system is owned or operated by a department-approved satellite management agency (SMA), or if a department-approved SMA is not available, that the proposed new system has a department-approved water system plan in accordance with WAC 246-291-140;

     (b) Department approval of any system created after July 22, 1995, that is not owned or operated by a SMA shall be conditioned upon future management or ownership by a SMA, if such management or ownership can be made with reasonable economy and efficiency, or upon periodic review of the system's operational history to determine its ability to meet the department's financial viability and other operating requirements.

     (c) If the proposed system is located within the boundaries of a critical water supply service area, the ability to develop an independent system shall be governed by the provisions of the Public Water System Coordination Act, chapter 70.116 RCW and chapter 246-293 WAC, and will be subject to the jurisdictional coordinated water system plan; or

     (d) If the proposed system consists of a surface water or GWI source, ensure that the proposed system will be owned and operated by a department-approved satellite system management agency.

     (3) For systems approved after the effective date of these rules, a summary of the following shall be recorded, by the system owner, on all affected property titles as a means of providing information about the system to property owners, lending institutions, and other potentially affected parties:

     (a) Notice that the property is served by a public water system;

     (b) The initial water system plan, planning section of the Group B Water System Guideline, or equivalent information from other documents as determined by the department;

     (c) Notice that the system is subject to state and local rules;

     (d) Recommendation to check with the jurisdictional regulatory authority on the current system status;

     (e) Notice that fees may be assessed by the department for providing information on a public water system;

     (f) Requirement for satellite management, if applicable;

     (g) Notice of any waivers granted to the system; and

     (h) Other information required by the department.



[Statutory Authority: RCW 43.20.050. 95-20-078, § 246-291-140, filed 10/4/95, effective 11/4/95; 94-14-002, § 246-291-140, filed 6/22/94, effective 7/23/94.]