You will need a narrative description and a map of the entire project. You may also have to provide any applicable engineering documents, the public water system's cross connection control plan, water right impairment information, and user agreements or contracts. The Department of Ecology or the Department of Health may require additional information. Ecology typically issues a single combined permit containing both water rights provisions and Department of Health requirements.
Most facilities producing reclaimed water may also need a National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permit or State Waste Discharge (SWD) Permit to authorize the discharge of wastewater effluent that is not treated for Reclaimed Water purposes. On a case-by-case basis, Ecology may combine conditions for reclaimed water production and distribution into a NPDES or SWD permit for the treatment facility’s effluent discharges. Even though a facility may receive a single permit covering reclaimed water production and treated wastewater disposal, they will need to submit separate permit applications for the Reclaimed Water Permit and the NPDES or SWD permit. Please refer to the sections on NPDES Individual Permits and State Waste Discharge Permits in the handbook for more information on these permits.
Ecology considers the applicable laws and rules, the contents of your application, and the relevant background information from facility engineering documents and environmental studies when making permit decisions.
In addition, the permitting process includes public review. This means that the public may submit comments on the proposed permit to Ecology during the 30 day public comment period to support or oppose your proposed activity. Ecology must consider all comments received during the comment period before making a final decision to issue or deny the permit. The fact sheet for the final permit will contain a summary of all comments received, if any, Ecology’s response to the comments, and a summary of the changes made to the permit as a result of the comments.
Permit terms are typically five years, which is the maximum duration.
You have a right to appeal a new or reissued permit to the Pollution Control Hearings Board (PCHB) within 30 days of the date of receipt of the permit issuance notice. The appeal process is governed by
Chapter 43.21B RCW
and
Chapter 371-08 WAC.
"Date of receipt" is defined in
RCW 43.21B.001(2).
To appeal you must do the following within 30 days of the date of receipt of your permit issuance notice:
- File your appeal and a copy of the permit cover page with the PCHB (see addresses below). Filing means actual receipt by the PCHB during regular business hours.
- Serve a copy of your appeal and the permit cover page on Ecology in paper form — by mail or in person (see addresses below). E-mail is not accepted.
Physical Addresses
Department of Ecology
Attn: Appeals Processing Desk
300 Desmond Drive SE
Lacey, WA 98503
Pollution Control Hearings Board
1111 Israel Road SW, Suite 301
Tumwater, WA 98501
Mailing Addresses
Department of Ecology
Attn: Appeals Processing Desk
P.O. Box 47608
Olympia, WA 98504-7608
Pollution Control Hearings Board
P.O. Box 40903
Olympia, WA 98504-0903