Yakima County Water Resource System (YCWRS) 

Applying for your Water Availability and Well Permits

Several Documents are required for the processing of your YCWRS well permit or proof of Adequate Water Supply and Legal Availability of Water. There are several steps in the process and reviewed by various departments in order to obtain your permits:

WATER RIGHTS You will need to determine your legal evidence of water rights by one of the following:

1. A water right permit from the Department of Ecology, or
2. A letter from an approved water purveyor stating the ability to provide water, or
3. A YCWRS domestic well permit (Yakima County), or
4. Other adequate evidence of interest in a suitable water right held for mitigation purposes by an existing water bank, or
5. A Yakama Nation Water Code permit for properties located within the exterior boundaries of the Yakama Nation, or
6. Documentation that the well site is located outside of the Yakama River watershed.

WATER AVAILABILITY  Throughout the process at each step, always maintain a current copy of the documents as they are updated. Water Availability application form will need to be reviewed by several departments, signed, and re-submitted. 

Start at Step 1 for wells that have not yet been constructed. Start at Step 2 for an existing well.

Step 1: Water Availability Application (New well not yet drilled) Complete the form and submit to Yakima County Public Services to determine Property Eligibility for Well Depth and/or Water Bearing Unit Standard. When depth is determined by Yakima County as indicated on the last page of the form (maintain a current copy after each step), see Step 2.

Step 2:  Re-submit the Water Availability Application (form from Step 1) with your Water Well Report to Yakima County following construction of the well to verify it meets the Well Depth Standard. (Maintain a copy of the updated form.)

Step 3: Adequate Water Determination (AWD) - Yakima Health District will confirm water quality and water availability. The following documentation is required to apply: (Please note, there is a separate fee for the AWD application when you apply.)

• Adequate Water Determination application
• Water Availability Form
• Water Well Report OR 4-hour drawdown
• Water Test for Bacteria (collected within 6 months)
• Nitrate Test (collected within 12 months)

For wells that have no power, you will need to hire a pump service to draw a sample for bacteria and nitrate test. If a well log has not been completed, now would be the time to have the pumper also conduct a 4-hour drawdown.

Step 4: Water Metering Agreement and legal description completed with Well Permit that is obtained concurrently with Building or Land Use Permit. (Fee for Well Permit is $770.00)

Step 5: Meter Installation: Please contact Yakima County Public Services when you are ready to install a meter. (This cost is approximately $550 and varies upon installer/contractor and location within the county.)