Title 70A — Title 70A ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH AND SAFETY

*** CHANGE IN 2026 *** (SEE 2251-S2.SL) ***(1) Agencies that allocate funding or administer grant programs appropriated from the climate investment account created in RCW 70A.65.250, the climate commitment account created in RCW 70A.65.260, and the natural climate solutions accou…

(1) A covered or opt-in entity has a compliance obligation for its emissions during each compliance period, with the first compliance period commencing January 1, 2023. The department shall by rule require that covered or opt-in entities annually transfer a percentage of complian…

(1) A federal power marketing administration may elect to voluntarily participate in the program by registering as an opt-in entity pursuant to the requirements of this section.(2) In registering as an opt-in entity under this section, a federal power marketing administration may…

(1) The department shall provide analysis and forecasts of the compliance instrument markets created by this chapter, including:(a) The prices in primary and secondary compliance instrument markets;(b) Trends in compliance instrument supply and demand and prices;(c) Activities in…

(1) The department shall periodically perform economic modeling for purposes of analyzing design features of the program created by this chapter. This analysis must include the following components:(a) A baseline model assuming implementation of complementary emission reduction m…

(1) By October 1, 2025, the department must post and periodically update on its website a directory tool, by county and, if applicable, city, of the name and address of each retail fuel seller of exempt agricultural fuel under RCW 70A.65.080(7)(e) that has notified the department…

This act may be known and cited as the Washington climate commitment act.[ 2021 c 316 s 37.]

(1) RCW 70A.65.060 through 70A.65.210, and any rules adopted by the department of ecology to implement the program established under those sections, are suspended on December 31, 2055, in the event that the department of ecology determines by December 1, 2055, that the 2050 emiss…

The legislature hereby finds that an adequate supply of potable water for domestic, commercial, and industrial use is vital to the health and well-being of the people of the state. Readily available water for use in public water systems is limited and should be developed and used…

The purposes of this chapter are:(1) To provide for the establishment of critical water supply service areas related to water utility planning and development;(2) To provide for the development of minimum planning and design standards for critical water supply service areas to in…

Unless the context clearly requires otherwise, the following terms when used in this chapter shall be defined as follows:(1) "Coordinated water system plan" means a plan for public water systems within a critical water supply service area which identifies the present and future n…

(1) The secretary and the appropriate local planning agencies and purveyors, shall study geographical areas where water supply problems related to uncoordinated planning, inadequate water quality or unreliable service appear to exist. If the results of the study indicate that suc…

(1) Each purveyor within the boundaries of a critical water supply service area shall develop a water system plan for the purveyor's future service area if such a plan has not already been developed: PROVIDED, That nonmunicipally owned public water systems are exempt from the pla…

(1) A coordinated water system plan shall be submitted to the secretary for design approval within two years of the establishment of the boundaries of a critical water supply service area.(2) The secretary shall review the coordinated water system plan and, to the extent the plan…

(1) The proposed service area boundaries of public water systems within the critical water supply service area that are required to submit water system plans under this chapter shall be identified in the system's plan. The local legislative authority, or its planning department o…

The secretary shall adopt performance standards relating to fire protection to be incorporated into the design and construction of public water systems. The standards shall be consistent with recognized national standards. The secretary shall adopt regulations pertaining to the a…

The assumption of jurisdiction or control of any public water system or systems by a city, town, or code city, shall be subject to the provisions of chapter 35.13A RCW, and the provisions of this chapter shall be superseded by the provisions of chapter 35.13A RCW regarding such a…

Nothing in this chapter shall apply to water which is bottled or otherwise packaged in a container for human consumption or domestic use, or to the treatment, storage and transportation facilities used in the processing of the bottled water or the distribution of the bottles or c…

Nothing in this chapter shall be construed to alter in any way the existing authority of purveyors and municipal corporations to establish, administer and apply water rates and rate provisions.[ 1977 ex.s. c 142 s 11. Formerly RCW 70.116.110.]

This chapter shall be known and may be cited as the "Public Water System Coordination Act of 1977".[ 1977 ex.s. c 142 s 12. Formerly RCW 70.116.120.]

(1) The secretary shall adopt rules pursuant to chapter 34.05 RCW establishing criteria for designating individuals or water purveyors as qualified satellite system management agencies. The criteria shall set forth minimum standards for designation as a satellite system managemen…

For any new or revised water or sewer system plan submitted for review under this chapter, the department of health shall review and either approve, conditionally approve, reject, or request amendments within ninety days of the receipt of the submission of the plan. The departmen…

The legislature finds that over one million, two hundred thousand persons in the state are not served by sanitary sewers and that they must rely on septic tank systems. The failure of large numbers of such systems has resulted in significant health hazards, loss of property value…

As used in this chapter, the terms defined in this section shall have the meanings indicated unless the context clearly indicates otherwise.(1) "Nonwater-carried sewage disposal devices" means any device that stores and treats nonwater-carried human urine and feces.(2) "Alternati…

(1) Local boards of health shall identify failing septic tank drainfield systems in the normal manner and will use reasonable effort to determine new failures. The local health officer, environmental health director, or equivalent officer may apply for an administrative search wa…

With the advice of the secretary of the department of health, local boards of health are hereby authorized to waive applicable sections of local plumbing and/or building codes that might prohibit the use of an alternative method for correcting a failure.[ 1991 c 3 s 368; 1977 ex.…

If the legislative authority of a county or city finds that more restrictive standards than those contained in *section 2 of this act or those adopted by the state board of health for systems allowed under *section 2 of this act or limitations on expansion of a residence are nece…

(1) After July 1, 1994, a person may not use, sell, or distribute a chemical additive to on-site sewage disposal systems.(2) After January 1, 1996, no person shall use, sell, or distribute any on-site sewage disposal additive whose ingredients have not been approved by the depart…

The department shall hold confidential any information obtained pursuant to RCW 70A.105.060 when shown by any manufacturer that such information, if made public, would divulge confidential business information, methods, or processes entitled to protection as trade secrets of the …

(1) Each manufacturer of a certified and approved additive product advertised, sold, or distributed in the state shall:(a) Make no claims relating to the elimination of the need for septic tank pumping or proper septic tank maintenance;(b) List the components of additive products…

The department may not use funds appropriated to implement an element of the action agenda developed by the Puget Sound partnership under RCW 90.71.310 to conduct any activity required under chapter 281, Laws of 1994.[ 2007 c 341 s 61; 1994 c 281 s 6. Formerly RCW 70.118.090.]Not…

In order to assure that technical guidelines and standards keep pace with advancing technologies, the department of health in collaboration with local health departments and other interested parties, must review and update as appropriate, the state guidelines and standards for al…

*** CHANGE IN 2026 *** (SEE 6291.SL) ***(1) The local board of health shall ensure that individuals who conduct inspections of on-site wastewater treatment systems or who otherwise conduct reviews of such systems are qualified in the technology and application of on-site sewage t…

A local health officer who is responsible for administering and enforcing regulations regarding on-site sewage disposal systems is authorized to issue civil penalties for violations of those regulations under the same limitations and requirements imposed on the department under R…

The legislature finds that:(1) Hood Canal and other marine waters in Puget Sound are at risk of severe loss of marine life from low-dissolved oxygen. The increased input of human-influenced nutrients, especially nitrogen, is a factor causing this low-dissolved oxygen condition in…

The definitions in this section apply throughout this chapter unless the context clearly requires otherwise.(1) "Board" means the state board of health.(2) "Department" means the department of health.(3) "Failing" means a condition of an existing on-site sewage disposal system or…

By July 1, 2007, the local health officers of health jurisdictions in the twelve counties bordering Puget Sound shall develop a written on-site program management plan to provide guidance to the local health jurisdiction.[ 2006 c 18 s 3. Formerly RCW 70.118A.030.]

(1) In developing on-site program management plans required under RCW 70A.110.030, the local health officer shall propose a marine recovery area for those land areas where existing on-site sewage disposal systems are a significant factor contributing to concerns associated with:(…

(1) The local health officer of a local health jurisdiction where a marine recovery area has been proposed under RCW 70A.110.040 shall develop and approve a marine recovery area on-site strategy that includes designation of marine recovery areas to guide the local health jurisdic…

In a marine recovery area, each local health officer shall:(1) Require that on-site sewage disposal system maintenance specialists, septic tank pumpers, or others performing on-site sewage disposal system inspections submit reports or inspection results to the local health jurisd…

(1) The on-site program management plans of local health jurisdictions required under RCW 70A.110.030 must be submitted to the department by July 1, 2007, and be reviewed to determine if they contain all necessary elements. The department shall provide in writing to the local boa…

(1) The department shall enter into a contract with each local health jurisdiction subject to the requirements of this chapter to implement plans developed under this chapter, and to develop or enhance electronic data systems required by this chapter. The contract must include st…

The provisions of this chapter are supplemental to all other authorities governing on-site sewage disposal systems, including chapter 70A.105 RCW and rules adopted under that chapter.[ 2020 c 20 s 1339; 2006 c 18 s 9. Formerly RCW 70.118A.090.]

Nothing in this chapter prohibits a county from relying on self-inspection of on-site sewage systems consistent with RCW 36.70A.690 or eliminates the requirement that counties protect water quality consistent with RCW 36.70A.070 (1) and (5).[ 2017 c 105 s 2. Formerly RCW 70.118A.…

The legislature finds that:(1) Protection of the environment and public health requires properly designed, operated, and maintained on-site sewage systems. Failure of those systems can pose certain health and environmental hazards if sewage leaks above ground or if untreated sewa…

The definitions in this section apply throughout this chapter unless the context clearly requires otherwise.(1) "Department" means the state department of health.(2) "Industrial wastewater" means the water or liquid carried waste from an industrial process. These wastes may resul…

(1) For the protection of human health and the environment the department shall:(a) Establish and provide for the comprehensive regulation of large on-site sewage systems including, but not limited to, system siting, design, construction, installation, operation, maintenance, and…

(1) A person may not install or operate a large on-site sewage system without an operating permit as provided in this chapter after July 1, 2009. The owner of the system is responsible for obtaining a permit.(2) The department shall issue operating permits in accordance with the …

(1) For the protection of human health and the environment, the secretary shall adopt rules for the comprehensive regulation of large on-site sewage systems, which includes, but is not limited to, the siting, design, construction, installation, maintenance, repair, and permitting…

(1) A person who violates a law or rule regulating large on-site sewage systems administered by the department is subject to a penalty of not more than ten thousand dollars per day for every violation. Every violation is a separate and distinct offense. In case of a continuing vi…