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H.B. 38

             1     

WATER REUSE REQUIREMENTS

             2     
2006 GENERAL SESSION

             3     
STATE OF UTAH

             4     
Chief Sponsor: Ben C. Ferry

             5     
Senate Sponsor: Thomas V. Hatch

             6     
             7      LONG TITLE
             8      General Description:
             9          This bill addresses requirements for water reuse projects.
             10      Highlighted Provisions:
             11          This bill:
             12          .    defines terms;
             13          .    allows reuse of water by a public agency, including water for which water rights are
             14      not owned by the agency but a reuse authorization contract exists;
             15          .    establishes a process for approval of a water reuse project;
             16          .    addresses the effects of a water reuse project; and
             17          .    makes technical changes.
             18      Monies Appropriated in this Bill:
             19          None
             20      Other Special Clauses:
             21          None
             22      Utah Code Sections Affected:
             23      AMENDS:
             24          19-5-104, as last amended by Chapter 274, Laws of Utah 2001
             25      ENACTS:
             26          73-3c-101, Utah Code Annotated 1953
             27          73-3c-102, Utah Code Annotated 1953


             28          73-3c-201, Utah Code Annotated 1953
             29          73-3c-202, Utah Code Annotated 1953
             30          73-3c-301, Utah Code Annotated 1953
             31          73-3c-302, Utah Code Annotated 1953
             32          73-3c-303, Utah Code Annotated 1953
             33          73-3c-304, Utah Code Annotated 1953
             34          73-3c-401, Utah Code Annotated 1953
             35      REPEALS:
             36          73-3c-1, as enacted by Chapter 39, Laws of Utah 1995
             37          73-3c-2, as enacted by Chapter 39, Laws of Utah 1995
             38          73-3c-3, as enacted by Chapter 39, Laws of Utah 1995
             39          73-3c-4, as enacted by Chapter 39, Laws of Utah 1995
             40          73-3c-5, as enacted by Chapter 39, Laws of Utah 1995
             41          73-3c-6, as enacted by Chapter 39, Laws of Utah 1995
             42          73-3c-7, as enacted by Chapter 39, Laws of Utah 1995
             43          73-3c-8, as enacted by Chapter 39, Laws of Utah 1995
             44     
             45      Be it enacted by the Legislature of the state of Utah:
             46          Section 1. Section 19-5-104 is amended to read:
             47           19-5-104. Powers and duties of board.
             48          (1) The board has the following powers and duties, but the board shall give priority to
             49      pollution that results in hazards to the public health:
             50          (a) develop programs for the prevention, control, and abatement of new or existing
             51      pollution of the waters of the state;
             52          (b) advise, consult, and cooperate with other agencies of the state, the federal
             53      government, other states, and interstate agencies, and with affected groups, political
             54      subdivisions, and industries to further the purposes of this chapter;
             55          (c) encourage, participate in, or conduct studies, investigations, research, and
             56      demonstrations relating to water pollution and causes of water pollution as the board finds
             57      necessary to discharge its duties;
             58          (d) collect and disseminate information relating to water pollution and the prevention,


             59      control, and abatement of water pollution;
             60          (e) adopt, modify, or repeal standards of quality of the waters of the state and classify
             61      those waters according to their reasonable uses in the interest of the public under conditions the
             62      board may prescribe for the prevention, control, and abatement of pollution;
             63          (f) make rules in accordance with Title 63, Chapter 46a, Utah Administrative
             64      Rulemaking Act, taking into account Subsection (2), to:
             65          (i) implement the awarding of construction loans to political subdivisions and
             66      municipal authorities under Section 11-8-2 , including:
             67          (A) requirements pertaining to applications for loans;
             68          (B) requirements for determination of eligible projects;
             69          (C) requirements for determination of the costs upon which loans are based, which
             70      costs may include engineering, financial, legal, and administrative expenses necessary for the
             71      construction, reconstruction, and improvement of sewage treatment plants, including major
             72      interceptors, collection systems, and other facilities appurtenant to the plant;
             73          (D) a priority schedule for awarding loans, in which the board may consider in addition
             74      to water pollution control needs any financial needs relevant, including per capita cost, in
             75      making a determination of priority; and
             76          (E) requirements for determination of the amount of the loan;
             77          (ii) implement the awarding of loans for nonpoint source projects pursuant to Section
             78      73-10c-4.5 ;
             79          (iii) set effluent limitations and standards subject to Section 19-5-116 ;
             80          (iv) implement or effectuate the powers and duties of the board; and
             81          (v) protect the public health for the design, construction, operation, and maintenance of
             82      underground wastewater disposal systems, liquid scavenger operations, and vault and earthen
             83      pit privies;
             84          (g) issue, modify, or revoke orders:
             85          (i) prohibiting or abating discharges;
             86          (ii) requiring the construction of new treatment works or any parts of them, or requiring
             87      the modification, extension, or alteration of existing treatment works as specified by board rule
             88      or any parts of them, or the adoption of other remedial measures to prevent, control, or abate
             89      pollution;


             90          (iii) setting standards of water quality, classifying waters or evidencing any other
             91      determination by the board under this chapter; and
             92          (iv) requiring compliance with this chapter and with rules made under this chapter;
             93          (h) review plans, specifications, or other data relative to disposal systems or any part of
             94      disposal systems, and issue construction permits for the installation or modification of
             95      treatment works or any parts of them;
             96          (i) after public notice and opportunity for a public hearing, issue, continue in effect,
             97      revoke, modify, or deny discharge permits under reasonable conditions the board may prescribe
             98      to control the management of sewage sludge or to prevent or control the discharge of
             99      pollutants, including effluent limitations for the discharge of wastes into the waters of the state;
             100          (j) give reasonable consideration in the exercise of its powers and duties to the
             101      economic impact of water pollution control on industry and agriculture;
             102          (k) exercise all incidental powers necessary to carry out the purposes of this chapter,
             103      including delegation to the department of its duties as appropriate to improve administrative
             104      efficiency;
             105          (l) meet the requirements of federal law related to water pollution;
             106          (m) establish and conduct a continuing planning process for control of water pollution
             107      including the specification and implementation of maximum daily loads of pollutants;
             108          (n) make rules governing inspection, monitoring, recordkeeping, and reporting
             109      requirements for underground injections and require permits for them, to protect drinking water
             110      sources, except for wells, pits, and ponds covered by Section 40-6-5 regarding gas and oil,
             111      recognizing that underground injection endangers drinking water sources if:
             112          (i) injection may result in the presence of any contaminant in underground water which
             113      supplies or can reasonably be expected to supply any public water system, as defined in Section
             114      19-4-102 ; and
             115          (ii) the presence of the contaminant may result in the public water system not
             116      complying with any national primary drinking water standards or may otherwise adversely
             117      affect the health of persons;
             118          (o) make rules governing sewage sludge management, including permitting, inspecting,
             119      monitoring, recordkeeping, and reporting requirements;
             120          (p) adopt and enforce rules and establish fees to cover the costs of testing for


             121      certification of operators of treatment works and sewerage systems operated by political
             122      subdivisions; [and]
             123          (q) notwithstanding the provisions of Section 19-4-112 , make rules governing design
             124      and construction of irrigation systems which convey sewage treatment facility effluent of
             125      human origin in pipelines under pressure, unless contained in surface pipes wholly on private
             126      property and for agricultural purposes, and which are constructed after May 4, 1998[.]; and
             127          (r) (i) approve, approve in part, approve with conditions, or deny, in writing, an
             128      application for water reuse under Title 73, Chapter 3c, Wastewater Reuse Act; and
             129          (ii) issue an operating permit for water reuse under Title 73, Chapter 3c, Wastewater
             130      Reuse Act.
             131          (2) In determining eligible project costs and in establishing priorities pursuant to
             132      Subsection (1)(f)(i), the board shall take into consideration the availability of federal grants.
             133          (3) In establishing certification rules under Subsection (1)(p), the board shall:
             134          (a) base the requirements for certification on the size, treatment process type, and
             135      complexity of the treatment works and sewerage systems operated by political subdivisions;
             136          (b) allow operators until three years after the date of adoption of the rules to obtain
             137      initial certification;
             138          (c) allow new operators one year from the date they are hired by a treatment plant or
             139      sewerage system or three years after the date of adoption of the rules, whichever occurs later, to
             140      obtain certification;
             141          (d) issue certification upon application and without testing, at a grade level comparable
             142      to the grade of current certification to operators who are currently certified under the voluntary
             143      certification plan for wastewater works operators as recognized by the board; and
             144          (e) issue a certification upon application and without testing that is valid only at the
             145      treatment works or sewerage system where that operator is currently employed if the operator:
             146          (i) is in charge of and responsible for the treatment works or sewerage system on
             147      March 16, 1991;
             148          (ii) has been employed at least ten years in the operation of that treatment works or
             149      sewerage system prior to March 16, 1991; and
             150          (iii) demonstrates to the board his capability to operate the treatment works or
             151      sewerage system at which he is currently employed by providing employment history and


             152      references as required by the board.
             153          Section 2. Section 73-3c-101 is enacted to read:
             154     
CHAPTER 3c. WASTEWATER REUSE ACT

             155     
Part 1. General Provisions

             156          73-3c-101. Title.
             157          This chapter is known as the "Wastewater Reuse Act."
             158          Section 3. Section 73-3c-102 is enacted to read:
             159          73-3c-102. Definitions.
             160          As used in this chapter:
             161          (1) "Domestic wastewater" or "sewage" means:
             162          (a) a combination of the liquid or water-carried wastes from:
             163          (i) structures with installed plumbing facilities; and
             164          (ii) industrial establishments; and
             165          (b) any groundwater, surface water, and storm water that is present with the waste.
             166          (2) "POTW" means a publicly owned treatment works as defined by Section 19-5-102 .
             167          (3) "Public agency" means a public agency as defined by Section 11-13-103 that:
             168          (a) owns or operates a POTW;
             169          (b) collects and transports domestic wastewater;
             170          (c) holds legal title to a water right;
             171          (d) is delegated the right to the beneficial use or reuse of water by the legal title holder
             172      of the water right;
             173          (e) is a water supplier; or
             174          (f) sells wholesale or retail water.
             175          (4) "Return flow requirement" means return flow required under a water right.
             176          (5) (a) "Reuse authorization contract" means a contract or contracts among:
             177          (i) a public agency proposing a water reuse project;
             178          (ii) the owner or operator of a POTW that treats domestic wastewater proposed for use
             179      in a reuse project;
             180          (iii) the owner of a domestic wastewater collection or transportation system if the reuse
             181      project will divert domestic wastewater directly from that entity's collection or transportation
             182      system;


             183          (iv) the legal title holder of the water right designated for use in the reuse project,
             184      unless the legal title holder of the water right has delegated to another the right to the beneficial
             185      use or reuse of the water;
             186          (v) each water supplier not holding legal title to the water right designated for use in
             187      the reuse project that sells or delivers water under the water right designated for use in the
             188      reuse project;
             189          (vi) each entity that will engage in the wholesale or retail sale of water from the water
             190      reuse project; and
             191          (vii) the retail water supplier retailing water that will be replaced by reuse water
             192      supplied under the proposed reuse project.
             193          (b) A reuse authorization contract shall:
             194          (i) provide that a water supplier that is a party to the agreement consents to the use of
             195      reuse water under each water right, in which the water supplier has an interest, that is identified
             196      for use in the water reuse project; and
             197          (ii) provide that any proposed water reuse project based on the contract shall be
             198      consistent with the underlying water right.
             199          (6) "Reuse water" means domestic wastewater treated to a standard acceptable under
             200      rules made by the Water Quality Board under Section 19-5-104 .
             201          (7) "Water reuse project" or "project" means a project for the reuse of domestic
             202      wastewater that requires approval by the Water Quality Board in accordance with Section
             203      19-5-104 and the state engineer under Section 73-3c-302 .
             204          (8) "Water right" means:
             205          (a) a right to use water evidenced by any means identified in Section 73-1-10 ; or
             206          (b) a right to use water under an approved application:
             207          (i) to appropriate;
             208          (ii) for a change of use; or
             209          (iii) for the exchange of water.
             210          (9) "Water supplier" means an entity engaged in the delivery of water for municipal
             211      purposes.
             212          Section 4. Section 73-3c-201 is enacted to read:
             213     
Part 2. Permissible Reuse


             214          73-3c-201. Reuse by a public agency owning underlying water right.
             215          (1) A public agency owning or operating a POTW that treats domestic wastewater
             216      consisting of water supplied under a water right the public agency owns may use, or contract
             217      for the use of, reuse water if:
             218          (a) the water right is administered by the state engineer as a municipal water right;
             219          (b) the reuse is consistent, under Subsection 73-3c-302 (5), with the underlying water
             220      right; and
             221          (c) the public agency receives approval in accordance with Sections 73-3c-301 and
             222      73-3c-302 .
             223          (2) A change application shall be filed in accordance with Section 73-3-3 if the public
             224      agency proposes a water reuse that is inconsistent with the underlying water right.
             225          Section 5. Section 73-3c-202 is enacted to read:
             226          73-3c-202. Reuse by a public agency under a contract authorizing the use of
             227      water.
             228          (1) A public agency may use or contract for the use of reuse water if:
             229          (a) the domestic wastewater consists of water for which the public agency has a reuse
             230      authorization contract;
             231          (b) the water right is administered by the state engineer as a municipal water right;
             232          (c) the reuse is consistent, under Subsection 73-3c-302 (5), with the underlying water
             233      right; and
             234          (d) the public agency receives approval in accordance with Sections 73-3c-301 and
             235      73-3c-302 .
             236          (2) A change application shall be filed in accordance with Section 73-3-3 if the public
             237      agency proposes a water reuse that is inconsistent with the underlying water right.
             238          Section 6. Section 73-3c-301 is enacted to read:
             239     
Part 3. Approval Process

             240          73-3c-301. Application to the Water Quality Board.
             241          (1) A public agency proposing a water reuse project shall apply to the Water Quality
             242      Board created by Section 19-1-106 .
             243          (2) The Water Quality Board may make rules, in accordance with Title 63, Chapter
             244      46a, Utah Administrative Rulemaking Act, governing the consideration and approval of water


             245      reuse applications and administration of water reuse construction and operating permits.
             246          (3) Rules created under Subsection (2) shall require that water reuse meet standards
             247      and requirements for water quality set by the Water Quality Board in accordance with Title 19,
             248      Chapter 5, Water Quality Act.
             249          (4) The Water Quality Board shall issue a written decision for each water reuse
             250      application.
             251          Section 7. Section 73-3c-302 is enacted to read:
             252          73-3c-302. Application to the state engineer.
             253          (1) A public agency proposing water reuse shall apply to the state engineer.
             254          (2) An application for water reuse under Subsection (1) shall be made upon forms
             255      furnished by the state engineer and shall include:
             256          (a) the name of the applicant;
             257          (b) a description of the underlying water right;
             258          (c) an evaluation of the underlying water right's diversion, depletion, and return flow
             259      requirements;
             260          (d) the estimated quantity of water to be reused;
             261          (e) the location of the POTW;
             262          (f) the place, purpose, and extent of the proposed water reuse;
             263          (g) an evaluation of depletion from the hydrologic system caused by the water reuse;
             264      and
             265          (h) any other information consistent with this chapter that is requested by the state
             266      engineer.
             267          (3) An application under Subsection (1) shall include a copy of a reuse authorization
             268      contract for water reuse proposed by a public agency for any underlying water right not owned
             269      by the public agency.
             270          (4) In considering an application for water reuse, the state engineer shall comply with:
             271          (a) Section 73-3-6 ;
             272          (b) Section 73-3-7 ;
             273          (c) Section 73-3-10 ; and
             274          (d) Section 73-3-14 .
             275          (5) In determining whether a proposed water reuse is consistent with the underlying


             276      water right, the state engineer shall conclude that a proposed water reuse is consistent with the
             277      underlying water right if:
             278          (a) the use of the reuse water does not enlarge the underlying water right; and
             279          (b) any return flow requirement of the underlying water right is satisfied.
             280          (6) (a) The state engineer shall approve a water reuse application if the state engineer
             281      concludes that the proposed water reuse is consistent with the underlying water right.
             282          (b) The state engineer may:
             283          (i) deny an application for water reuse if the proposed water reuse is inconsistent with
             284      the underlying water right; or
             285          (ii) approve the application in part or with conditions to assure consistency with the
             286      underlying water right.
             287          (7) A public agency with an approved reuse application shall submit a report, as
             288      directed by the state engineer, concerning the ongoing water reuse operation.
             289          (8) The state engineer may make rules in accordance with Title 63, Chapter 46a, Utah
             290      Administrative Rulemaking Act, to implement the provisions of this chapter.
             291          Section 8. Section 73-3c-303 is enacted to read:
             292          73-3c-303. Inflow of unappropriated water -- Application to appropriate.
             293          If domestic wastewater inflow to a POTW consists of any unappropriated infiltration
             294      water, a person may apply to the state engineer to appropriate the unappropriated infiltration
             295      water to a beneficial use in accordance with Section 73-3-8 .
             296          Section 9. Section 73-3c-304 is enacted to read:
             297          73-3c-304. Change in point of discharge.
             298          (1) The point of discharge of water from a POTW may be changed if the Water Quality
             299      Board determines that a change is necessary:
             300          (a) for treatment purposes;
             301          (b) to enhance environmental quality;
             302          (c) to protect public health, safety, or welfare; or
             303          (d) to comply with:
             304          (i) rules created by the Water Quality Board in accordance with Section 19-5-104 ; or
             305          (ii) the POTW's discharge permit.
             306          (2) Before changing the point of discharge from a POTW under Subsection (1), the


             307      Water Quality Board shall consult with the state engineer.
             308          Section 10. Section 73-3c-401 is enacted to read:
             309     
Part 4. Effect of Reuse

             310          73-3c-401. Priority of reuse water.
             311          If the use of reuse water is consistent with the underlying water right, the priority of the
             312      reuse water is the same as the priority of the underlying water right.
             313          Section 11. Repealer.
             314          This bill repeals:
             315          Section 73-3c-1, Definitions.
             316          Section 73-3c-2, Municipality may use sewage effluent in a manner consistent with
             317      its water rights -- Change application to be filed for uses inconsistent with water rights.
             318          Section 73-3c-3, Agent for use of sewage effluent -- Change application for
             319      inconsistent uses.
             320          Section 73-3c-4, Consideration and approval of change applications to effect the
             321      use of sewage effluent.
             322          Section 73-3c-5, Priority of a use of sewage effluent.
             323          Section 73-3c-6, Sewage inflow that consists of unappropriated water --
             324      Application to appropriate may be made.
             325          Section 73-3c-7, Change of point of discharge of sewage effluent.
             326          Section 73-3c-8, Notification of a sewage effluent use or change in point of
             327      discharge -- State engineer to make rules.




Legislative Review Note
    as of 11-10-05 9:01 AM


Based on a limited legal review, this legislation has not been determined to have a high
probability of being held unconstitutional.

Office of Legislative Research and General Counsel


Interim Committee Note
    as of 12-20-05 10:59 AM


The Natural Resources, Agriculture, and Environment Interim Committee recommended this


bill.

Legislative Committee Note
    as of 12-20-05 10:59 AM


The Water Issues Task Force recommended this bill.


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