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Water Rights

The waters of Washington State collectively belong to the public and cannot be owned by any one individual or group.  Instead, individuals or groups may be granted rights to use them.  A water right is a legal authorization to use a predefined quantity of public water for a designated purpose.  This purpose must qualify as a beneficial use.  Beneficial use involves the application of a reasonable quantity of water to a non-wasteful use, such as irrigation, domestic water supply, or power generation, to name a few.  An average household uses about 300 gallons of water per day.

State law requires certain users of public waters to receive approval from the state prior to using water - in the form of a water right permit or certificate.  Any use of surface water (lakes, ponds, rivers, streams, or springs) which began after the state water code was enacted in 1917 requires a water-right permit or certificate.

Likewise, withdrawals of underground (ground) water from 1945 onward, when the state groundwater code was enacted, require a water right permit or certificate – unless the use is specifically exempt from state permitting requirements.  While “exempt” groundwater uses are excused from needing a state permit, they still are considered to be water rights.

How do I?

• Apply for a new water right - using the pre-application conference
• Apply to change or transfer a water right or claim - using the pre-application conference
• Apply for a permit to store water
• Apply for an extension for water right and change authorizations
• Assign a water right to a new owner
• Find out if a property has a water right
• Find out if a project is exempt from the water right permitting process
• Find out more about water right and water storage fees
• Withdraw a pending water right application
• Find out more about the cost reimbursement option
• Amend a water right claim
• Voluntarily relinquish or abandon a water right certificate or claim
• Participate in Washington's water market programs

Water resources data

• Map Application: Water Resources Explorer
• Water availability in your watershed (WRIA)
• Pending water right applications by county
• State map showing the total number of water right claims, certificates, permits and applications by WRIA - February 2013
• State map showing Pending Water Right Applications by age  March 2013
• Search and view well reports using a variety of search tools

Public notices

• Cost reimbursement
• Draft and final Report of Examinations for water right permits and permit extensions
• Water Budget Neutral Determinations and Draft Report of Exams for Upper Kittitas County
• Water conservancy boards records of decision
• Trust water rights donations or short term leases

Contacts

For questions about water rights contact the regional office:

Northwest Region - Bellevue Counties:  Island, King, Kitsap, San Juan, Skagit, Snohomish and Whatcom Office: 425-649-7020 E-mail: arha461@ecy.wa.gov Office location and address	Southwest Region - Lacey Counties:  Clallam, Clark, Cowlitz, Grays Harbor, Jefferson, Mason, Lewis, Pacific, Pierce, Skamania, Thurston and Wahkiakum Office: 360-407-6859 E-mail: odav461@ecy.wa.gov Office location and address
Central Region - Yakima Counties: Benton, Chelan, Douglas, Kittitas, Klickitat, Okanogan, and Yakima Office: 509-575-2597 E-mail: tmit461@ecy.wa.gov Office location and address	Eastern Region - Spokane Counties:  Adams, Asotin, Columbia, Ferry, Franklin, Garfield, Grant, Lincoln, Pend Oreille, Spokane, Stevens, Walla Walla and Whitman Office: 509-329-3541 E-mail: awat461@ecy.wa.gov Office location and address