Ecology crafting new rules for winery wastewater

Posted on February 17, 2015

Phone: 509-930-8798

YAKIMA, Wash. State environmental regulators are working on new rules that would govern how wineries dispose of water used to clean equipment and facilities.

Officials with the state Department of Ecology are drafting a winery wastewater permit that could require companies, even small wineries, to build new treatment and disposal facilities separate from their sewer connections or septic systems.

We are considering giving them extra time once the permit is issued to come into compliance with the permit, said Chelsea Desforges, an Ecology water quality program manager, in an email. We do not have a specific timeline in mind, but in the past some general permits have given businesses several years to retrofit their facilities.

Wine industry officials say the process is in the early stages but support the Ecology Departments effort.

Were all for clean water, said Patrick Rawn, vice chairman of the Washington Association of Wine Grape Growers and co-owner of Two Mountain Winery in Zillah.

Volunteers from the states wine industry have participated in the rulemaking.

Well adapt and move on, Rawn said.

Desforges spoke about the proposed changes at the recent annual meeting of the organization in the Tri-Cities.

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Ecology crafting new rules for winery wastewater