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Frequently Asked Questions regarding Water Availability
When do I need a Water Availability Certificate? Water Certificates are required prior to application for a building permit of a building necessitating potable water [RCW19.27.097], and prior to final approval of rural and short subdivisions. It is the property owner’s responsibility to submit the application materials for Water Availability or to appoint an authorized agent or representative to do so. Well drillers will supply the property owner with a copy of the Water Well Report within 30 days of completing of the well. Drillers may take water samples for quality analyses if contracted to do so prior to drilling. All other necessary documentation for a Water Availability application is the responsibility of the property owner or representative. The fee for the Water Availability application is required at the time of application and includes inspections of the water source site, and reviews of plot plans, water analyses, and Water Well Reports. The water evaluation is generally completed within a 7-day period. Applicants are notified during the review process if additional information is required and will be notified when the final approval has been made. There is no expiration on a Water Availability Certificate as long as the evaluated water source remains the source of potable water to the residence. If an alternative water source is used after certification, a review is required for the new source. What are the requirements for an individual Water Availability Certificate? The application requires:
Water sample bottles for bacteriological analysis are available at the Health and Human Services Department (The bottle fee includes analysis by an independent laboratory contracted by the County). Bacteriological bottles are also available from private laboratories. A list of Washington State Certified Laboratories is available from the Washington State Department of Ecology. Can I share my well with my neighbor? Cowlitz County has a shared (two party) water system evaluation. Shared (Two Party) water systems have the requirements listed above for individual systems in addition to: 1. Satisfactory Chemical Analyses for: a. Primary Contaminants: Arsenic, Sodium, Nitrate as Nitrogen b. Secondary Contaminants: Iron, Manganese, Zinc, Chloride, Sulfate 2. Water Users Easement and Agreement [form] A Shared Water Users Easement and Agreement document is available in the Building and Planning Department. Applicants may use their own document, but it must be reviewed and approved by the Environmental Health Unit prior to recording in the Auditor’s office. The purpose of the document is to ensure that a continued supply of water will be available to the two properties described in the document and that all parties involved are aware of Washington State wellhead protection requirements. A Washington State Certified Laboratory must perform Bacteriological and Chemical Analyses. A list of Washington State Certified laboratories is available in the Environmental Health Unit. What can I do if I do not have a Water Well Report for my well? All wells constructed after May 30, 1973 were required to have subsequent Water Well Report sent to the Department of Ecology. Water Well Report copies may be requested from the Department of Ecology at (360) 407-6300 or the Cowlitz County Environmental Health Unit. Wells drilled prior to May 30, 1973 that may not have a Water Well Report or wells with missing Water Well Reports must as much information as is available regarding the well shall be provided, such as, but not limited to, static level, well depth, casing width, presence and condition of seal and height of casing above the ground surface. All wells must meet minimum well construction standards to ensure the health and welfare of consumers. In addition to the other requirements for a Water Availability Certificate, a minimum of an on site inspection of the well will be performed by the Environmental Health Unit and a flow test must be performed by a licensed driller, pump installer, or qualified agent. Contact a licensed water well contractor or licensed pump installer for information on pump tests. How close to my property line can I place a new well? Well Construction Standards [WAC 173-160] do not specifically state property line restrictions, but states that wells must be located a minimum of one-hundred (100) feet from sources of know or potential contamination sources. Prior to constructing a well near a property line, consider the protection of the 100-foot radius sanitary zone. If the property line is adjacent to a state, county or private road, there are also road and utility easements that must be maintained. What can I do if my well is a low yield water supply? Low yield water sources are required to have a pump test. The objective of the pump test is to provide information to support the source’s ability to reliably provide an adequate yield and the well/aquifer’s potential vulnerability to water degradation by increased pumping. A constant rate pump test shall be required for all low or marginal yield water sources and water sources without flow rate information. A pump test report shall show the static water level, yield, draw down, recovery rate and duration of pumping. The duration of the pump test must be for a sufficient period of time to ensure that the well can produce enough water to adequately supply the proposed project and is determined case by case. Can I get a Water Availability Certificate with a spring? Yes, once the requirements are met. The first thing you need is a Washington State Department of Ecology Water Right Permit/Certificate issued to the property, which gives approval to withdraw the State’s surface water. The Environmental Health Unit will then perform an on site inspection of the spring site to determine if the site or water storage equipment is satisfactory. Proper spring development helps protect the water supply from contamination. The objective of spring development is to collect flowing water while still underground to protect it from surface contamination and store it in a sanitary spring box. Once the site is approved, water quality analyses can be done and application for a Water Availability Certificate can be submitted.
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