What is a "Permit Exempt Well" OR "Exempt Well"?

Means a well (existing well or proposed well) withdrawing water under the groundwater permit exemption contained in RCW 90.44.050.

RCW 90.44.050 - Permit to Withdraw

After June 6, 1945, no withdrawal of public groundwaters of the state shall be begun, nor shall any well or other works for such withdrawal be constructed, unless an application to appropriate such waters has been made to the department and a permit has been granted by it as herein provided: EXCEPT, HOWEVER, That any withdrawal of public groundwaters for stock-watering purposes, or for the watering of a lawn or of a noncommercial garden not exceeding one-half acre in area, or for single or group domestic uses in an amount not exceeding five thousand gallons a day, or as provided in RCW 90.44.052, or for an industrial purpose in an amount not exceeding five thousand gallons a day, is and shall be exempt from the provisions of this section, but, to the extent that it is regularly used beneficially, shall be entitled to a right equal to that established by a permit issued under the provisions of this chapter: PROVIDED, HOWEVER, That the department from time to time may require the person or agency making any such small withdrawal to furnish information as to the means for and the quantity of that withdrawal: PROVIDED, FURTHER, That at the option of the party making withdrawals of groundwaters of the state not exceeding five thousand gallons per day, applications under this section or declarations under RCW 90.44.090 may be filed and permits and certificates obtained in the same manner and under the same requirements as is in this chapter provided in the case of withdrawals in excess of five thousand gallons a day.

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?