Agricultural Water Rights Workshop "Accessing different water sources" Steve Hirschey and Susan Kaufman-Una, King County November 2, 2010

Alternative Methods to Get Water leasing water rights: – Short-term of years to seasonal change; – split season. reclaimed water. harvesting rainwater, and other options.

Water Use with No Water Right You are not alone No paper or don’t know – find out by location data and talk with Ecology Use not in conformance with the paper documentation

King County Water Rights Ground water Surface water Totals Claims Certificates Permits Totals

New Uses with Changes to water rights Ecology must determine: Water right developed and maintained by beneficial use - documentation Change will not impair existing rights Change is not detrimental to public welfare

Perfected Water Rights Documented by a Claim or Certificate can be changed: Look up-stream Point of diversion/withdrawal; same source Place of use Purpose of use Add uses or add irrigated acres Period of use (change purpose)

Ground water permits can be changed: Look uphill For point of withdrawal For place of use But not for purpose of use nor source of water – must be same aquifer

Ground Water Permit Exemption RCW “… any withdrawal of public ground waters for stock- watering purposes, or for the watering of a lawn or of a noncommercial garden not exceeding one-half acre in area, or for single or group domestic uses in an amount not exceeding five thousand gallons a day, or as provided in RCW , or for an industrial purpose in an amount not exceeding five thousand gallons a day, is and shall be exempt from the provisions of this section…”

The Permit Exempt Well Lens Daily indoor use: 5,000 gpd There is no gallon limit for a non-commercial lawn or garden, the limit is acreage: 1/2 acre Industrial - includes nursery irrigation (Kim case): 5,000 gpd Livestock: unlimited withdrawal (Attorney General Opinion)

Ground Water Permit Exemption RCW Water users withdrawing ground water under the exemption establish a water right equal to the water right they would establish by obtaining a permit from the Department of Ecology. The priority of such a water right dates back to the beginning of beneficial use of the water. Stockwatering Attorney General Opinion

Ground Water Permit Exemption RCW All wells for a given project apply toward the limits of exemption. For example, one could not irrigate two acres by installing four wells - each serving 1/2 acre, or use 10,000 gallons per day by installing two wells.

What is reclaimed water? Wastewater treatment plant effluent that has been highly treated for safe and beneficial use Washington State has strict guidelines and standards for treatment and use Class A reclaimed water can be used for almost everything except drinking Used for food crops in US now Gallo Wines Florida and California Oranges Monterey CA strawberries

What do you need to use reclaimed water? A source of reclaimed water (treatment plant) and a way to get it to your farm – Conveyance system of purple pipes (very limited) – Truck and haul from South Plant (Renton) – User Agreement (required by Ecology’s permit)

Existing Reclaimed Water Distribution Systems in King County Sammamish Valley -west side of river -Good for irrigation (soccer fields and food crops) and environmental uses -Available in 2012/13 -Developing rates now

Distribution system in Tukwila from South Plant - irrigation, wetland nursery, fill station - future- industrial processes and heating and cooling

Future Possibilities? City of Bothell Feasibility Study- may have truck fill station Reclaimed Water Comprehensive Plan- when, if how would we expand the existing reclaimed water system (next few years) – Distribution system to Green River APD? – Satellite Plants? Stay Tuned

Rainwater Harvesting Stormwater management versus collecting water for a beneficial use. PCHB decision on the Third Runway at SeaTac Water off the roof and pavement but not the contoured landscape Dispose of the water on parcel of origin

Western Washington State Water Use & Precipitation Crunch Precip in InchesUse in gpd

What Would the Fate of Rainwater Be If It Had Not Been Captured, Stored and Used? Some would runoff the roof and become stormwater Some would infiltrate into the ground, become interflow, and then: – Become stormwater – Recharge the aquifer – Become baseflow for a stream – Be evapotranspirated Some would be evapotranspirated right away

Other Water Other Options and or General Observations

Thank You Susan Kaufman-Una & Steve Hirschey King County, Department of Natural Resources & Parks