Bill > HB1793

This bill aims to provide property owners in areas with limited access to new legal water sources with alternative ways to obtain water, ensuring that these methods do not negatively impact existing surface waters, as defined by the Department of Ecology's in-stream flow rules. It acknowledges that in many rural areas, obtaining sufficient and reliable new water supplies for new construction is difficult. While extending piped water infrastructure or using approved mitigation are preferred, this bill recognizes that these options are not always feasible. Therefore, it allows cities and counties to work with landowners to develop safe and reliable alternative water sources, such as water delivered by trucks or rainwater collection systems combined with storage tanks and treatment systems, as part of a broader set of legally permissible options. The bill amends existing laws to allow for these alternative water sources to be considered as proof of an adequate water supply for building permits, alongside traditional water rights or letters from water purveyors, and also permits local governments to adopt ordinances allowing these alternative sources under specific conditions.