DOH to assess criteria for inclusion in drinking water program

Access to safe and reliable drinking water is essential to protect you and your community’s health. DOH is conducting an environmental justice assessment to determine qualifications for "disadvantaged community" status within the Drinking Water State Revolving Fund (DWSRF) program (Chapter 246-296 WAC).

The purpose of an environmental justice assessment is to identify:

• Who might be most impacted by an agency action
• Ways to minimize negative environmental impacts
• How to equitably distribute positive environmental impacts

The assessment will contribute to rulemaking under the DWSRF program. Visit the DWSRF website to learn more about the program, including current draft criteria and definitions.

In completing this assessment, our DWSRF team will identify and engage with people who experience barriers to accessing safe and reliable drinking water. This will include people who spend a high percentage of their income on water costs.

We will reach out to and engage with communities across our state throughout the environmental justice assessment and rulemaking process. If you believe you or your community meet the above description and would like to participate in that engagement, contact us at DWSRF@doh.wa.gov.

Opportunities for the public to engage in the assessment and rulemaking process will occur through January 2024. To stay informed about the process and engagement opportunities you can sign up to receive emails from the DWSRF team.