Unlike most other Western states, Washington historically has enjoyed abundant water supplies in most of its populated areas. As a result of rapid population growth, however, municipal water suppliers face significant new water demands that are straining existing capacities. Moreover, Endangered Species Act listings and recovery programs for declining salmon resources will mean substantial increases in instream flows for fish, and even less water available for human consumption. Permission to use water is granted by the Washington Department of Ecology through the water rights permitting process. The permitting process begins when a prospective water user submits a Water Right Application to Ecology.
Ecology publishes a public notice and decides whether additional water rights are available.
If the application is approved, Ecology issues a Water Right Permit allowing the permittee to develop water for the proposed uses. Permit backlog growing The traditional response to increased demands for water has been to develop new supplies. Until recently, Ecology routinely processed water right applications in the order received. The only significant issue usually was whether junior water users were affected. Each year, however, untapped water resources became harder to find.