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Mason County retools Class B water rules, restores state definitions after public concerns
Summary
After a staff presentation and public testimony, the Board approved amendments to Chapter 6.64 to require regular water‑quality monitoring for three‑to‑nine‑connection (Group B) systems and to reinsert state definitions for 'Class B' and 'purveyor' by copying WAC language into the ordinance.
The Mason County Board of Commissioners on Monday adopted changes to Mason County Code Chapter 6.64 that require routine water‑quality monitoring for small public water systems and restore explicit state definitions into county code.
County environmental health manager Ian Tracy told the board the draft ordinance was intended to bring county rules into alignment with state law and to clarify language for systems that serve between three and nine connections, commonly called Group B systems. Tracy said the ordinance would require "fecal coliform to be tested a minimum of twice a year and then nitrate once every two years." He also said the county proposes to remove a long‑unused county water system designer certification program from code.
The public hearing drew several residents from small islands and lakeshore neighborhoods. Robert A. Pastor, a Stretch Island resident, said he spent many hours reviewing WAC 246‑291 and asked the county to reinsert the term "Class B" and the definition of "purveyor" — terms used in the state rules that appear in multiple places in the draft. Pastor also asked that the ordinance’s applicability section be moved to the beginning so residents could readily see who is covered. Tracy replied that the proposed draft relied on the state definition by reference to avoid duplication, but confirmed the county could include the state wording as a direct insertion if the commission preferred.
Commissioners spoke in favor of clarity that helps enforcement and reduces legal ambiguity. Commissioner Netherland moved to adopt the ordinance with the reintroduction — by copy‑and‑paste — of the state's definitions for Class B and purveyor. The motion was seconded and passed by voice vote.
Why it matters: the change reinstates routine monitoring for small community water systems that county staff say is important to protect public health, while the reinserted definitions aim to reduce confusion about which systems are covered. The commission also heard calls from some residents to consider annual testing for short‑term rentals and to improve public outreach when code changes are proposed.
What’s next: the ordinance was adopted at the meeting; staff will publish the amended code language and any implementing procedures, and commissioners suggested holding a briefing to discuss possible testing requirements tied to property transfers or commercial short‑term rental activity.
