New state water quality standards

OLYMPIA - Washingtonians will get a chance to preview proposed water quality standards for toxic chemicals that include new fish consumption rates.

The Washington Department of Ecology is making details of the preliminary draft rule available for early review.

The new preliminary draft rule proposes standards for how clean water needs to be and would control pollution limits for businesses and municipalities that discharge waste water.

The rule contains a unique provision that no standard would allow more pollution than today's standard, except arsenic that occurs naturally. Seventy percent of the standards would actually enhance protection by requiring cleaner water.

According to Director Maia Bellon, Ecology also completed an extensive preliminary economic analysis that shows the new water quality standards would create minimal costs to industries and local governments that discharge waste water.

Ecology's proposal includes further clarification about flexible implementation tools that industries and local governments could use to achieve the new water quality standards.

What this means for industries and local governments, Bellon said:

• They would not be required to clean up pollution that they didn't cause.
• Compliance schedules or variances could allow them to meet new standards over a specific period of time if they are demonstrating measurable progress and are on a path to meet standards as soon as possible.

Ecology expects to issue a formal draft rule in January 2015 and will invite public comments.