What does "Adequate Water Supply" mean?

A supply of water that is adequate to serve a land use in terms of (a) water quality, water quantity and (b) legal availability.

(a) What evidence is required in terms of water quality and quantity?

  • Water purveyor: an applicant who will obtain water from an approved water purveyor must submit a letter from the purveyor stating the purveyor's ability to provide water.
  • Well: An applicant who will obtain water from a permit-exempt well must provide a notification/approval from the Yakima Health District that the water is potable, and that the volume of water is adequate to meet the intended use. (AWD - Adequate Water Determination)

(b) What evidence is required in terms of the legal availability of water?

  • Water purveyor: an applicant who will obtain water from an approved water purveyor must submit a letter from the purveyor stating the purveyor's ability to provide water.

OR

  • Well: an applicant who will obtain water from a permit-exempt well must provide evidence in the form of:
    • A water right permit from the Department of Ecology, or
    • A letter from an approved water purveyor stating the ability to provide water, or
    • A YCWRS domestic well permit (Yakima County), or
    • Other adequate evidence of interest in a suitable water right held for mitigation purposes by an existing water bank, or
    • A Yakama Nation Water Code permits for properties located within the exterior boundaries of the Yakama Nation, or
    • Documentation that the well site is located outside of the Yakima River watershed.

Show All Answers

1. What is YCWRS?
2. How can I obtain a YCWRS domestic well permit?
3. How much does a YCWRS domestic well permit cost?
4. What are the ongoing costs for a YCWRS domestic well permit once I have obtained the permit and installed the meter?
5. Are there any exemptions to the requirement for submitting evidence of adequate water supply?
6. What changed on January 1, 2018?
7. What does "Adequate Water Supply" mean?
8. What is a "Permit Exempt Well" OR "Exempt Well"?
9. What does an "approved water purveyor" mean?
10. What is a "shared well" or "2-party well"?
11. What is a "water supply"?
12. If I have an existing single family residence served by a permit exempt well, do I have to stop using my water or meter my water use?
13. I applied for and received a building permit before January 1, 2018, but I haven't finished building the house. Do I have to meter my well?
14. Can I expand a single family residence served by a permit exempt well?
15. Can I drill a new replacement well for my residence?
16. Do I need to obtain evidence of the legal availability of water before I can drill my well?
17. What happens if I drill a well (or already drilled a well) but have no applied for a building permit to construct my residence?
18. Will I be able to water my lawn and/or have a garden and trees?
19. I have a shared well, but have only built on the one parcel. Do I need to mitigate for the second connection (or ADU - Accessory Dwelling Unit) when the new house is built?
20. I have an existing stock water well. Is that going to be limited by the new regulations?
21. I am planning on subdividing my property. How do the new requirements apply?