Since 1993, the water code requires the measurement of all new surface water rights and all existing water rights that meet at least one of the following criteria:

• Surface water diversions greater than one cubic feet of water per second, or
• Diversions and withdrawals from surface and ground water sources that support fish stocks classified as critical or depressed by the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife.

Since 2002, Ecology has required measuring devices as a condition in all water right permitting decisions.

In addition, a ruling in a 1999 lawsuit brought on by American Rivers, Center for Environmental Law and Policy (CELP) and other groups requires Ecology to achieve 80% metering compliance in 16 Fish Critical Basins in the state.

 

Laws and rules governing measuring water

• Revised Code of Washington (RCW):
  • RCW 90.03.360 – Controlling Works and measuring devices
  • RCW 90.44.050 - Permit to withdraw
  • RCW 90.44.250 - Investigations -- Reports of appropriators
  • RCW 90.44.450 - Metering or measuring ground water withdrawals
• Washington Administrative Code (WAC):
  • Chapter 173-173 – Requirements for Measuring and Reporting Water Use.

Meter Information

• Meter Types, Technical Requirements, Vendors and Installers - includes information about: Pressurized systems, Open Channel systems, and Meter Vendors and Installers.

Benefits of Measuring Water Use

Measuring water use benefits the public in many ways, such as:

• Providing a tool for ensuring compliance with water rights.
• Supplying information for water resource planning and management.
• Informing water users how much water they are using, and
• Helping to better manage a limited natural resource.

Links

• Map of 16 Fish Critical Watersheds
• U.S. Bureau of Reclamation Water Measurement Manual
• U.S. Bureau of Reclamation Hydromet System - a network of automated hydrologic and meteorological monitoring stations located throughout the Pacific Northwest that can be useful for water management.
• U.S. Geological Survey - Water Use in the United States

Contacts