Standards, procedures, and guidelines for industrial and commercial use of reclaimed water—Reclaimed water permits—Fee structure for permits—Formal agreements between the departments of health and ecology.
(1)(a) The department of health shall, in coordination with the department of ecology, adopt a single set of standards, procedures, and guidelines on or before August 1, 1993, for the industrial and commercial use of reclaimed water.
(b) Standards adopted under this section are superseded by any rules adopted by the department of ecology pursuant to RCW 90.46.015 as they relate to the industrial and commercial use of reclaimed water.
(2) Unless the department of ecology adopts rules pursuant to RCW 90.46.015 that relate to the industrial and commercial use of reclaimed water specifying otherwise, the department of health may issue a reclaimed water permit for industrial and commercial uses of reclaimed water to the generator of reclaimed water who may then distribute the water, subject to provisions in the permit governing the location, rate, water quality, and purposes of use. Permits issued after the adoption of rules under RCW 90.46.015 must be consistent with the adopted rules.
(3) The department of health in consultation with the advisory committee established in RCW 90.46.050, shall develop recommendations for a fee structure for permits issued under subsection (2) of this section. Fees shall be established in amounts to fully recover, and not exceed, expenses incurred by the department of health in processing permit applications and modifications, monitoring and evaluating compliance with permits, and conducting inspections and supporting the reasonable overhead expenses that are directly related to these activities. Permit fees may not be used for research or enforcement activities. The department of health shall not issue permits under this section until a fee structure has been established.
(4) A permit under this section for use of reclaimed water may be issued only to:
(a) A municipal, quasi-municipal, or other governmental entity;
(b) A private utility as defined in RCW 36.94.010; or
(c) The holder of a waste discharge permit issued under chapter 90.48 RCW.
(5) The authority and duties created in this section are in addition to any authority and duties already provided in law with regard to sewage and wastewater collection, treatment, and disposal for the protection of health and safety of the state's waters. Nothing in this section limits the powers of the state or any political subdivision to exercise such authority.
(6) Unless the department of ecology adopts rules pursuant to RCW 90.46.015 that relate to the industrial and commercial use of reclaimed water specifying otherwise, the department of health may implement the requirements of this section through the department of ecology by execution of a formal agreement between the departments. Upon execution of such an agreement, the department of ecology may issue reclaimed water permits for industrial and commercial uses of reclaimed water by issuance of permits under chapter 90.48 RCW, and may establish and collect fees as required for permits issued under chapter 90.48 RCW.
(7) Unless the department of ecology adopts rules pursuant to RCW 90.46.015 that relate to the industrial and commercial use of reclaimed water specifying otherwise, and before deciding whether to issue a permit under this section to a private utility, the department of health may require information that is reasonable and necessary to determine whether the private utility has the financial and other resources to ensure the reliability, continuity, and supervision of the reclaimed water facility.