Opinion ID: 2262083
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: water quality regulation background

Text: ¶ 9 The United States Safe Drinking Water Act (SDWA), Pub.L. No. 93-523, § 2(a), 88 Stat. 1660, 1661 (1974), regulates all drinking water systems in the United States. States are permitted to provide greater protection than the minimums established by the SDWA. 42 U.S.C. § 300g-2(a)(1). The Washington State Legislature vested the Department of Health with the power and duty to regulate the health and safety of drinking water. RCW 43.20.050(2)(a). [3] The department has responded with detailed regulations governing public water systems. Ch. 246-290 WAC. This chapter includes a specific regulation on fluoridation, WAC 246-290-460. Pursuant to the SDWA and the regulations promulgated by Washington's Department of Health, there are approximately 40 chemicals that may be added to public water supplies. Mostly these chemicals are used to treat water and make it safe, palatable and aesthetically acceptable. ACP at 207 (decl. Clallam County Health Officer). Fluoride is one of the permitted chemicals. WAC 246-290-460. While class A municipal water suppliers like Port Angeles are not required to fluoridate, if they choose to, the rule sets quantities and monitoring required. WAC 246-290-020 through-460. ¶ 10 Port Angeles has operated its own municipal water system for nearly 100 years, and its own municipal code includes a fairly detailed regulatory scheme. Ch. 13.24 through .48 PAMC (regulating public water system). It appears that the city has not incorporated a water and sewer district to manage city waters. There is no mention of it in the city code. See also Mun. Research Servs. Ctr. of Wash., Washington Water and Sewer Districts Listed by County, http://www.mrsc.org/Subjects/governance/spd/SPD-WatSew.aspx (last visited Sept. 16, 2010) (listing water districts). If it had, it is unlikely this case would have come before us. The legislature has explicitly vested the power to decide whether or not to fluoridate in the board of commissioners of a water district. RCW 57.08.012. Nothing in chapter 57.08 RCW creates the power of initiative or referendum to check such board decisions. The grant of power to water districts is not subject to local oversight, even by local boards of health. Parkland Light & Water Co. v. Tacoma-Pierce County Bd. of Health, 151 Wash.2d 428, 434, 90 P.3d 37 (2004).