Metering your water use

Metering is required for certain uses

Not all water right holders are required to report water use, but they are required to keep the most current five years of metering records on site. Below are some examples of water uses that requires metering:

• All new surface water uses
• All existing surface water uses greater than one cubic foot of water per second
• All new water right permits issued in the 16 fish-critical watersheds
• Some water uses in water-short areas
• Some mitigated water uses
• Some uses of water from reserves

Special circumstances

Yakima River Basin — Yakima County Superior Court requires holders of confirmed water rights to meter their water use. Yakima County Superior Court issued a metering order (pdf) for all confirmed surface water right holders in Benton, Kittitas, and Yakima counties, except tribal lands. Close to 3,000 water rights have been confirmed as part of the Yakima River Basin adjudication.

• Large water diversions of one cubic foot per second (cfs) or greater are required to meter and report their diversions to us.
• Smaller diversions must meter and retain the data for the most recent five years, and make it available to us on request.
• Yakima River Basin map 

Note: In 1994, the court ordered Yakima, Tieton, and Naches rivers' mainstem water users who divert one cubic foot per second or more to install and maintain measuring devices, to report their use to the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation, and to notify the Bureau in advance of any adjustments to their diversion rates. Those requirements remain in place and are not changed by this order.

Office of Columbia River — The Legislature directs us to collect and publish metering data from water users who divert or withdraw water from the Columbia River corridor. The Columbia River corridor consists of the Columbia River from Bonneville Dam to the Canadian border, the Snake River up to Lower Monumental Dam, and any use within a mile of each bank of these river reaches.

• More information about Columbia River water use compliance

Reporting your metering data online

Most water metering reports are due every year by January 31.

• Use an online account to report water use
• Contact your Metering Coordinator for alternative ways to submit water use data

Meter forms and information

• Guide to reporting water use online: provides steps for setting up and using an online metering account.
• Measuring device information – Form 1: provides information about your measuring device and water rights. Required for any new or replaced meter.
• Water use data collection reporting form: use if not recording readings in a electronic spreadsheet.
• Metering technical information: describes types of meters and their uses, how to read your meter, and where to find a vendor.
• Guide to recording water levels from a well: defines common terms and provides steps for collecting and documenting well water levels.

Laws & rules

Revised Code of Washington (RCW):

• RCW 90.03.360 — Controlling works and measuring devices
• RCW 90.44.050 — Permit to withdraw
• RCW 90.44.250 — Investigations – reports of appropriators
• RCW 90.44.450 — Metering or measuring groundwater withdrawals
• RCW 43.21A.064(8) — Powers and duties – water resources
• RCW 43.27A(090)(11) — Powers and duties of department

Washington Administrative Code (WAC):

• Chapter 173-173 WAC — Requirements for measuring and reporting water use