WRIA 62 WMP 032305 - Washington State Department of Ecology

March, 2005 -57- 023-1289-003.3040
• Ponderay Newsprint Company diverts water from the Pend Oreille River for use in its
manufacturing process. Water is reused on average fifteen times in the process before it is purged
from the papermaking process, treated in their effluent treatment plant, and returned to the river.
• The Town of Cusick land-applies wastewater during the summer months.
• The Town of Ione has replaced one-third to one-half of its water distribution system through a
Community Trade and Economic Development (CTED) Community Development Block Grant
(CDBG). The primary purpose of this on-going effort is to reduce water losses from leaking
pipes.
The intent of this issue is to support continuation of these efforts, establishment of new efforts and to
educate the population of WRIA 62 about the need to conserve water, especially during the dry
summer months.
There have been a few regional conservation programs within Washington State, including the three
listed below. The Watershed Planning Implementing Body is encouraged to contact these and other
groups for information on successful efforts to promote water conservation through education.
1. The Conservation Coalition is a group of water systems in the Puget Sound Region who have
been working on conservation together for over ten years. Their website is:
www.bewatersmart.net. The chair of the group is currently Janet Sailer (425-392-6256 x204,
janet@sammplat.wa.org1.) from the Sammamish Plateau.
2. The Saving Water Partnership is a group of water systems that consists of Seattle and its
wholesale water systems. Their website (www.savingwater.org) lists contacts for the
partnership.
3. Kitsap WaterPAK is a group of water systems in Kitsap County that worked together on
developing a coordinated water system plan for the county. Following completion of the
water system plan, Kitsap WaterPAK decided to continue to work on many other elements of
water system operation including conservation. Debbie Thomas from Kitsap PUD (360-626-
7723 and email:dthomas@kpud.org) is a contact for this group.
Washington State Department of Health (WDOH) is currently developing water use efficiency
regulations for Municipal Water Suppliers as required by the 2003 Municipal Water Law (also known
as HB 1338). A group of statewide stakeholders are finalizing their recommendations to WDOH on
the rule. Draft rule language is expected in April 2005. The rule is to be completed by December
2005.
At this time, there are no funds available from the WDOH for developing water conservation
reminders (as per the comments received from Washington State, December 2, 2004). The
Department of Health does have a conservation brochure which can be provided to the Watershed
Planning Implementing Body via electronic format for distribution.
WRIA 62 WMP 032305