Drinking Water Quality

WSU public Water Systems

Washington State University (WSU) is responsible for planning, operating, sampling, maintaining and protecting University owned public drinking water systems and water supply connections to meet the requirements of WAC 246-290 through WAC 246-296, WAC 173-160 and WAC 51-56. WSU is also responsible for helping to ensure that the quality of water WSU facilities receive from non-WSU public water systems meets state and federal requirements.

In that regard, WSU has formed a Water Board, comprised of staff from Facilities Operations, Environmental Health and Safety, Housing and Dining Services, Capital Planning and Development, and regional Campus and Research Unit representatives.

The Water Board:

• Develops all drinking water programs, policies, and procedures for WSU.
• Helps protect drinking water systems and water supply connections.
• Performs and enforces corrective actions.
• Ensures that qualified personnel are provided to develop and implement all applicable programs.
• Develops schedules for performing risk assessments.
• Develops a quality assurance program for backflow prevention assembly testing.
• Develops procedures for responding to water quality and backflow incidents.
• Provides educational programs for consumers about drinking water systems, conservation, cross-connection controls, etc.
• Coordinates with and notifies the Dept. of Health (DOH), local administrative and/or health authorities of any incidents, and documents the incidents.