The three part approval process begins with review of a comprehensive plan for the whole system, followed by justification and design review for a specific project, and then detailed construction documents. Upon project completion, the professional engineer assigned to the project signs a document certifying that the project was constructed according to approved plans. DOH will withhold approval of water system plans until Ecology has concurred with the water conservation plan. Ecology's decisions must be consistent with state-approved water system plans and locally approved land use plans. Furnishing water to two or more service connections for human consumption and domestic use.
Fees vary depending on type of approval, system class, and number of services.
These are systems that either have 15 or more services or serve an average of 15 or more people a day for sixty or more days in a calendar year. Completed applications, generated by Department of Health computers using information provided to the Water Systems Inventory, are mailed to system owners. Owners must sign and return these applications along with the application fee within 70 days. After receiving the signed application and fee, Health issues a permit that is colored to signify system adequacy. A red permit means that a county should not issue subdivision approval or building permits to property served by the system.