Yakima County, WA Water Use Rules: Recycled Water Rules (2026)
Key Facts
- Governing chapter
- YCC Title 16C, Critical Areas Ordinance
- Surface percolation standard
- RCW 90.46.010(10), 90.46.080(1)
- Direct injection standard
- RCW 90.46.042
- Extra discharge limits
- Set by WA Dept. of Ecology, RCW 90.46.080(2)
- Plan requirement
- Ecology/Health-approved water or sewer plan
- Enforcement tool
- Notice of Violation / Stop Work Order
Summary
Yakima County regulates reclaimed water reuse for surface percolation or direct groundwater recharge under its Critical Areas Ordinance. Any water reuse project must follow an adopted water or sewer comprehensive plan approved by the state Departments of Ecology and Health, with surface percolation and direct injection each held to separate state-authorized recharge standards.
(4) Use of Reclaimed Water for Surface Percolation or Direct Recharge. Water reuse projects for reclaimed water must be in accordance with the adopted water or sewer comprehensive plans that have been approved by the State Departments of Ecology and Health.
(a) Use of reclaimed water for surface percolation must meet the groundwater recharge criteria given in RCW 90.46.010(10) and 90.46.080(1). The State Department of Ecology may establish additional discharge limits in accordance with RCW 90.46.080(2).
(b) Direct injection must be in accordance with the standards developed by authority of RCW 90.46.042.
(5) Proposed new groundwater uses must provide evidence that the proposed water source is physically and legally available and meets drinking water standards. (Ord. 1-2011 § 2 (Exh. A (4) (part)), 2011; Ord. 5-2017 § 2(C) (Exh. 1) (part), 2017) 16C.09.07. Uses Prohibited from Critical Aquifer Recharge Areas. The following activities and uses are prohibited in critical aquifer recharge areas:
(1) Landfills. Landfills, including hazardous or dangerous waste, municipal solid waste, special waste, wood waste and inert and demolition waste landfills;
(2) Underground Injection Wells. Class I, III and IV wells and subclasses 5F01, 5D03, 5F04, 5W09, 5W10, 5W11, 5W31, 5X13, 5X14, 5X15, 5W20, 5X28, and 5N24 of Class V wells;
(3)
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: rev 4871853; v6 updated 2026-04-21; through 04-21-2026).
Full Breakdown
Reclaimed water use falls under Yakima County Code Title 16C, the Critical Areas Ordinance, specifically the performance standards for specific uses within Critical Aquifer Recharge Areas (CARAs) and Wellhead Protection Areas. 06(4), a water reuse project involving reclaimed water must be consistent with a water or sewer comprehensive plan that the State Departments of Ecology and Health have already approved. 042. 05 requires any applicant proposing an activity in a mapped CARA to demonstrate the activity will not let contaminants enter the aquifer and will not adversely affect its recharge, and to comply with water-source protection requirements of the EPA, Washington Department of Health, and the Yakima County Health District.
04 requires the Administrative Official to review development applications located in a mapped CARA or Wellhead Protection Area to determine whether hazardous materials are involved, and to require a hydrogeologic report from a qualified groundwater scientist if the potential contamination impact cannot otherwise be evaluated. 042 injection standard.
Violations & Fines
Enforcement of the Critical Areas Ordinance, including its reclaimed water standards, runs through YCC § 16C.04.01: the Administrative Official or a designee may order work on a noncompliant development stopped by serving a written Notice of Violation and/or Stop Work Order on the responsible party. That notice must spell out the corrective actions needed and the deadline for completing them, and no further development authorization is issued until the Administrative Official is satisfied the project complies with Title 16C's conditions and terms.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can reclaimed water be used for groundwater recharge in unincorporated Yakima County?
What standard governs surface percolation of reclaimed water?
Is direct injection of reclaimed water treated differently?
Who reviews a reclaimed water project inside a Critical Aquifer Recharge Area?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Yakima County
Compare Yakima County to another location·View the Washington water use rules overview
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