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Operating permits for drinking water systems

Information for Water Systems and Local Decision Makers

View and print this publication in Acrobat PDF format

State law requires all Group A public water systems to apply for an annual operating permit. (See Chapter 246-294 WAC.) Group A water systems have 15 or more service connections or regularly serve 25 or more people 60 or more days per year.

The operating permit gives us a way to evaluate a system's performance complying with drinking water requirements and presents the findings in a meaningful way to consumers, system owners and operators, permitting authorities, and lending institutions. The permit provides useable information about a water system's adequacy to serve existing services or grow. We also use the operating permit as a tool to protect public health by ensuring drinking water is safe and reliable.

Requirements for Group A water systems

Owners must get an operating permit each year. To do so, they  complete and return an annual fee statement to us along with the appropriate fee. We process and issues operating permits throughout the year, based on system size and type.

Evaluation and compliance

Operating permits serve as an enforcement tool and show the compliance status and adequacy of a public water system. To achieve this, we developed the following categories and recommendations: 

Category:

System is substantially:

We recommend you view this system as:

Green

 In compliance with all requirements. Adequate for existing uses and additional connections up to the approved number of connections unless it is already at capacity.

Yellow

 In compliance with all requirements. But it:
  • Was notified to submit a water system plan but hasn't satisfied the planning requirement.
  • Is under a compliance agreement for a state significant non-complier violation.
 Adequate for existing uses and additional connections up to the approved number, unless otherwise limited by a compliance agreement.

Blue

 In compliance with requirements. However, the system does not meet design approval requirements or it has exceeded the number of approved connections we established. Adequate for existing uses, but not adequate for adding new connections.

Red

 In noncompliance with requirements. Inadequate for existing uses and no additional connections be allowed. This may result in denial of home loans, building permits, on-site sewage disposal permits, food service permits, liquor licenses, and other permits or licenses for properties the system serves.


For More Information

Washington State Department of Health:

Southwest Region, Tumwater: (360) 236-3030
Northwest Region, Kent: (253) 395-6750
Eastern Region, Spokane Valley: (509) 329-2100

More Office of Drinking Water publications

December 2010 (Rev.)
DOH #331-168

    

The Division of Environmental Health licenses and certifications

Operating Permits

Systems with Red Operating Permits

How enforcement affects operating permits (PDF 121 KB)

Chapter 246-294 Drinking Water Operating Permits (PDF 59 KB)

Operating Permit Program Plan Adequacy Table - (PDF 34 KB)

Enforcement page for more information

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Dept. of Health
Office of Drinking Water
243 Israel Road S.E. 2nd floor
Tumwater, WA 98501		 Mail:
P.O. Box 47822
Olympia, WA 98504-7822
(360) 236-3100

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Last Update : 01/03/2011 12:04 PM