(1) The department shall initiate two pilot projects to measure water use from all new groundwater withdrawals for domestic purposes exempt from permitting under RCW 90.44.050 in the areas described in this section. The pilot projects must be conducted to determine the overall feasibility of measuring water use for all new groundwater withdrawals. The department must purchase and provide meters to be used in the pilot projects. The pilot projects must be conducted in the area under the Dungeness water rule, chapter 173-518 WAC, within water resource inventory area 18 and the area in which the Kittitas county water bank program operates within water resource inventory area 39.

(2) At a minimum, the pilot project must address the following:

(a) Initial and ongoing costs, including costs to local government and the department;

(b) Technical, practical, and legal considerations that must be addressed;

(c) The costs and benefits of a water use measurement program relying on individual meters versus a water management program that estimates permit-exempt groundwater withdrawals; and

(d) Measures to protect the privacy of individual property owners and ensure accurate data collection.

(3) The department shall report on the pilot project results in the report to the legislature submitted under RCW 90.94.050. The department shall include recommendations to the legislature, including estimated program costs for expanding the pilot projects to other basins.

Intent—2018 c 1: See note following RCW 90.94.010.