Columbia Basin cities affected by new rules

COLUMBIA BASIN - Municipal water utilities in Washington are now required to practice water conservation, the state Department of Health announced.

The regulations went into effect Monday and impact roughly 2,300 water suppliers in the state.

"It once seemed Washington had so much water we'd never run out. Not so today," said Denise Clifford, director of the department's office of drinking water. "If we want fresh water to drink, abundant fish in the streams and a vibrant, health economy, we all have to watch how much water we use. These new rules will help make sure there's enough to go around."

The new rules specify utilities maintain infrastructure to ensure water leakage of 10 percent or less. Meters must be installed within 10 years.

Moses Lake Water District Supervisor Bill Maddox said the water district plans to hire a company to locate pipe leaks. The district stopped hiring the company a few years ago because no leaks were being found, Maddox said.

"It's about time for us to bring him back," he said.

Quincy Public Works Director Harry Yamamoto said the city has its own leak detection device. Meters were replaced throughout Quincy. About 1,300 were replaced, with less than 100 still needing replacement, Yamamoto said.

"Metering is a big item in water conservation," he said. "You have to know what you've used and compare it to what you've pumped to see what the difference might be."

Leslie Gates, who is a manager with the office of drinking water at the department of health, said in 2003 the state legislature passed the municipal water law, which provided benefits and obligations to municipal water suppliers.

In addition to reducing leakage, the law requires municipal water suppliers prepare efficiency plans for water use. They must set water-use goals through a public process.

Utilities with at least 1,000 connections need to set goals by Jan. 22, 2008, while utilities with less connections have until Jan. 22, 2009, Gates said. Utilities must report yearly on water use, leakage rates and goal progress.