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Regulation of Public Groundwaters (Revised Code of Washington (RCW): Title 90 Water Rights—Environment; Chapter 90.44)

Country/Territory
United States of America
Territorial subdivision
State of Washington
Document type
Legislation
Date
2018
Source
FAO, FAOLEX
Subject
Water
Keyword
Groundwater Expropriation Water abstraction Authorization/permit Water rights Freshwater resources management Sewerage Well sinking/boreholes Offences/penalties Liability/compensation Zoning Local government
Geographical area
Americas, Arctic, East Pacific, North America, North Atlantic
Abstract

This Chapter of the Revised Code of Washington (RCW) concerns regulation of public groundwaters. It declares that this Chapter regulating and controlling groundwaters of the state of Washington shall be supplemental to chapter 90.03 RCW, which regulates the surface waters of the state, and is enacted for the purpose of extending the application of such surface water statutes to the appropriation and beneficial use of groundwaters within the state. Further, it provides for public groundwaters subject to appropriation; permit to withdraw; Whitman County clustered residential developments pilot project, exemption from permit requirements; applications for water right or amendment, consideration of water impoundment or other resource management technique; laws governing withdrawal; use of reclaimed water by wastewater treatment facility, permit requirements inapplicable; limitations on granting permit; certificate, showing required; certificate of vested rights; amendment to permit or certificate, replacement or new additional wells, exemption for small irrigation impoundments; amendment to permit or certificate, consolidation of rights for exempt wells; waste of water prohibited, exceptions; penalty for waste or unauthorized use of water; priorities as between appropriators, department in charge of groundwater withdrawals, establishment and modification of groundwater areas and depth zones, declarations by claimant of artificially stored water; hearing to adjust supply to current needs; water supervisors, duties, compensation; petition to conduct an adjudication to determine rights to water; effect of findings and judgment; investigations, reports of appropriators; groundwater management areas, purpose, standards, identification, designation; requirements for groundwater management programs, review of programs; groundwater management programs, consideration by department of ecology, public hearing, findings, adoption of regulations, ordinances, and programs; groundwater management programs, guidance to local governments and certain departments; existing rights not affected; acreage expansion program, authorization, certification; metering or measuring groundwater withdrawals, reports; reservoir permits; civil penalties; superseding water right permit or certificate, water delivered from federal Columbia basin project; Odessa groundwater subarea, involuntary nonuse of water rights, conditions, notice, report to the legislature; applications to appropriate groundwater under a cost­reimbursement agreement; and expedited processing of applications, notification, fees.

Full text
English
Website
leg.wa.gov