Chelan County Water Mitigation Program
When you apply for a new building permit through Chelan County Community Development, your drinking water well, spring, or surface water connection will need to be reviewed to ensure senior surface water and groundwater water rights are being protected. See this page for more information: County of Chelan, Washington.
Private Water Systems
Private water systems are those systems intended to serve one or two homes. Prior to receiving an onsite septic permit for a new building, applicants must complete a Private Water Review to demonstrate access to an adequate potable water supply. To complete a Private Water Review, please fill out the On-Site Septic and Water Master Permit Application and return it to the Chelan-Douglas Health District.
Additional Chelan-Douglas Health District Private Water Systems Information and Forms
- Well Site Variance Request
- Sample Shared Well (Joint Use) Agreement
- Pumping Testing to Demonstrate Well Capacity of Private Wells
- Emergency Disinfection of Small Water Systems
- Homeowner’s Guide to Well Construction
- Sanitary Control Handout
- Dept. of Ecology – Well Location Rules (WAC 173-160-171)
- CDHD Code – Water Availability Requirement
- Coliform Bacteria & Drinking Water
- Nitrates & Drinking Water
- Dept. of Ecology – Private Wells Information
- Covenant Examples (100’ radius)
Public Water Systems
Group B Public Water Systems
Group B public water systems serve fewer than 15 service connections and less than 25 people per day OR fewer than 15 service connections and 25 or more people per day for fewer than 60 days per year (WAC 246-291-005). Typically these systems are designed and approved during land division projects (short or long plats).
Examples of a Group B system would include:
- A business complex with 20 full time employees split between two buildings.
- A system serving two duplexes and two single family homes (six total connections, 15 people)
- A system serving three single family homes with one home having a separate shop that is a place of employment for people from outside the home. The other two homes include separate structure with piped water that serves as a retail or commercial business open to customers or clients. This system serves three dwelling units plus three nonresidential connections for a total of six connections.
The Health District can only approve new or expanding systems up to 9 connections and can’t approve any waivers to the Group B code. For systems over 9 connections and in need of waivers or variances, these systems need to be reviewed and approved by the Washington State Department of Health.
To apply for a New Group B Public Water System, or wish to modify or expand an existing Group B Public Water System, please submit the Group B Public Water System Application.
A well site inspection is a requirement for all new or proposed well sources for Group B and/or Group A Public Water Systems and requires a separate application.
Group B Public Water System Information & Forms
- WA DOH-Drinking Water Group B Public Water Systems Rules & Regulations
- Group B Public Water System Design Guidelines
- Group B Public Water System Design Workbook
- Group B Public Water Systems Handout
- Covenants for Public Water Supply Protection
- Proposed Water System Layout & Location Sketch Handout
- Water Facility Inventory (WFI) Form
- Water Facility Inventory (WFI) Form Instructions
- Sanitary Control Handout
Group B Public Water Systems Handout
Group A Public Water Systems
Group A public water systems generally serve 15 or more residential connections or 25 or more people a day. Group A systems are reviewed, approved, and monitored by the Washington State Department of Health.
Group A or B Water Systems Handout
Public Water Availability
Drinking water supply must be verified prior to the acceptance of payment for an on-site septic permit application. If the property is served by a public water supply, ask the water purveyor to fill out the Public Water Availability Checklist and submit to the Health District along with your on-site septic permit application.
Water Quality Testing
Water may contain contaminants that are harmful to human health. Prior to approval, water samples must be analyzed for the presence of coliform bacteria and nitrates. The Health District does not perform water quality testing. Samples can be submitted to any private lab for analysis with the test results forwarded to the Health District for review.
Cascade Analytical is the nearest lab in our area that performs testing, refer to contact information below.
- Cascade Analytical 509-662-1888 or 1-800-545-4206
- www.cascadeanalytical.com
