Important FactsIt is not a part of our work plan to require water measurment of individual exempt withdrawals. Metering can have the implication of fees or taxes. Ecology has no authority to charger people for their water use. Formal public comment period and hearings on the Draft Rule September 2001 |
The Rule Revision
We are progressing toward revising the 1988 water measuring rule. An initial draft is available for your review. We would like your ideas to help improve the draft rule. (Since this is not a formal comment period, we will not be providing a written response to comments.)
We have developed the initial draft rule language withthe assistance of a technical advisory group.
The proposed metering rule revisions focus on updating the outdated 1988 rule and including information from the 1993 metering law. In addition, the proposed rule includes the following elements:
- Specific data collection and reporting requirements. The current rule simply states that data must be submitted on a form provided by Ecology.
- Requirements for both open channel and pipe diversions. The current rule only discusses pipe now.
- Performance of the meter is the focus of metering requirements (e.g. required accuracy and installation concerns). The current rule has detailed, prescriptive elements (e.g. exact type of meter and materials). Such specific requirements are outdated as technology advances.
- Relaxed metering accuracy requirements compared with the current rule.
Since the 1993 revision of the state Water Code, we have been requiring measuring devices on all surface water withdrawals larger than I cubic foot per second. We began requiring measuring devices on all new water rights for surface and ground water withdrawals, as well as on changes, transfers and enforcement actions several years ago.
2001 Rule development timeline
June: Seek input from interested groups and the publicon the initial draft rule.
July 18: File CR 102 with draft rule language.
August 15 - September 15: Formal comment period.
September 4 - 13: Public bearings.
December: Rule adoption.
The Compliance Plan
The compliance plan calls for those water users totaling 80 percent of water use in each of the 16 "fish critical" watersheds to measure their water use by December 2002.
This will only affect a very small percentage of water right holders statewide. We expect to find that a majority of these are already measuring their water, i.e., public utilities and large agricultural operations.
The primary difference from the past will be the addition of reporting requirements.
Compliance plan timeline
In the 16 'Fish critical" watersheds:
December 31, 2001: Complete an assessment of water right holders already required to measure through permit conditions, regulatory orders, court orders, or as a condition of an extension of change to a claim, permit, or certificate.
December 31, 2001: Complete rule revision.
March 31, 2002: Issue measurement orders to holders of claims, permits and certificates who are already required to measure so they conform to the revised rule.
June 30, 2002: Issue measurement orders to 25 percent of the holders the largest claims, permits and certificates.
September 30, 2002: Issue measurement orders to an additional 50 percent of the holders of the largest claims, permits.
December 31, 2002: Issue measurement orders to the remaining holders of the largest claims, permits and certificates.
Beneficial of water use measurement
Metering benefits the public in many ways, such as:
- Informs water users how much water is being diverted and withdrawn and allows them to better manage their water use.
- Provides a tool for ensuring compliance with water rights.
- Supplies information about water availability.
Back to Whats New Index Page
Back to CRC Index Page
Back to General Index Page
Back to Watershed Index Page
This page created and maintained by Chehalis River Council
Send comments or questions to the: Chehalis River Council
