Central Region
Topics of interest in the Central Region
Water rights
Waters of the state belong to the public and can't be owned by any individual or group. Instead, a person or group may be granted a right to use a volume of water, for a defined purpose, in a specific place. Learn more about water rights management, including requesting or relinquishing water rights, adjudications, water banks, and metering water usage.
Burn bans
Do you use a wood stove to heat your home? Check to see if there is an air quality burn ban in your area. We also have information about how to use your wood stove more efficiently and the health affects of breathing smoke.
Lower Yakima Valley nitrates in drinking water
Ecology is working with other state and local government agencies to reduce nitrate contamination so everyone in the Lower Yakima Valley has clean, safe drinking water.
When you turn on your faucet, the water that comes out should be safe to drink. Unfortunately, this isn't true for some well users in the Lower Yakima Valley.
Groundwater in this area contains elevated levels of nitrate. While nitrates do not cause health issues for most adults, they make it harder for blood to deliver oxygen in babies,... Continue reading this blog...
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Related links
Contact information
Emily Tasaka
CRO Communications Manager
emily.tasaka@ecy.wa.gov,
509-571-0352