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Water is a precious, limited resource. In the Pacific Northwest, water
for our growing population competes with demands for fish
protection, agriculture and recreation. Using water efficiently is
particularly important during summer months when rainfall is scarce
and customer demand is high.
The 2003 Municipal Water
Supply-Efficiency Requirements Act
(PDF 100KB), commonly called the
Municipal Water
Law, is part of a multi-year effort to reform the state's water
laws. This law directed the Department of Health to adopt a Water
Use Efficiency (WUE) Rule to use water efficiently in exchange for
certainty and flexibility in the exercise of water rights.
What is the Purpose of the Water Use Efficiency Rule?
This rule helps conserve water for both the environment and future
generations by requiring municipal water suppliers to use water more
efficiently. It also supports our mission of ensuring safe and
reliable drinking water in the following ways:
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Contribute to long-term
water supply reliability and public health protection.
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Promote good stewardship
of the state's water resources.
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Ensure efficient
operation and management of water systems.
Who is Affected by the Water Use Efficiency Rule?
The rule applies to water systems that
are considered a municipal water supplier. Municipal water suppliers
are governmental entities providing water for municipal supply
purposes. Following a
June 11, 2008 superior court decision
(Ecology Web Site), private
water systems cannot be considered a municipal water supplier. See
MWL Legal Challenges page.
The Department of Ecology determines who is a municipal water supplier.
If you are not sure whether you are a municipal water supplier,
contact a Department of Ecology regional staff person at:
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Central Regional Office (Yakima):
509-457-7106
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Eastern Regional Office (Spokane):
509-329-3526
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NW Regional Office
(Bellevue): 425-649-4342
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SW Regional Office (Lacey):
360-407-0238
What are the Requirements?
The rule
requires municipal water suppliers to use water efficiently and
demonstrate that they are doing so. Specifically, municipal water
suppliers must:
Establish water saving goals through
a public process.
Install service meters within 10
years.
Meet a distribution system leakage
standard.
Develop a water use efficiency
program.
Evaluate or implement water use
efficiency measures to manage water use.
Report annually on progress towards
meeting goals and using water efficiently.
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