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Water Use Efficiency  July SMART Irrigation Month logo linking to EPA brochure "Watering Can be Efficient!"

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:

  • Contribute to long-term water supply reliability and public health protection.

  • Promote good stewardship of the state's water resources.

  • 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:

  • Central Regional Office (Yakima): 509-457-7106

  • Eastern Regional Office (Spokane): 509-329-3526

  • NW Regional Office (Bellevue): 425-649-4342

  • 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.

  • EPA WaterSense Logo linking to EPA Web Site

    EPA's new water-efficiency program offers consumers a simple way to make product choices that use less water with no sacrifice to quality or product performance. Visit the EPA WaterSense Web Site for more information.

    What's New

    • Training Opportunity:  Setting Water Rates to Promote Conservation (PDF 210kb)
    Partnership for Water Conservation
    June 3 in Renton

    Second Edition WUE Guidebook (PDF- 2165kb)

    WUE requirements for privately-owned or non-municipal  water systems (PDF 26kb)

    Annual WUE Performance Report Form  (PDF 200kb)

    Water Saving Tips (PDF 37kb)
    Water Saving Tips (Word 63kb)
     

    More WUE Resources

    WUE Publications and Educational Links

    E-MainStream article - AWWA acknowledges WA state for water efficiency efforts (AWWA Web Site)

     

    Posting your "Goal Setting" Public Forum Information

    Setting Goals to Use Water Efficiently (PDF 420 KB)

    How to post your goal-setting public forum to our web site.

    WUE Public Forum Schedule

     

    If you need your public forum date posted right away, please send email to the Web Coordinator.

    For More Information

    If you have any questions, please contact Michael Dexel at (360) 236-3154.

     
     

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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: 05/27/2009 05:07 PM