A 2-Party Public Water System is classified as a Group B public water system with two (2) single-family residential connections. Although it is classified as a Group B public water system, it has a different set of regulations than those with 3 or more connections. These systems are regulated by the Thurston County Environmental Health Division (Health Division) and must comply with Article III [PDF] of the Thurston County Sanitary Code.

These minimum standards may also apply to a 3-Party water system ONLY when the third connection is a residence recognized as a Family Member Unit by Thurston County Development Services Department. For projects located within a city jurisdiction or Thurston County Coordinated Water System Plan Urban Service Area [PDF], additional standards may apply.

NOTE: Expansion of a 2-Party Public water System to provide water service to additional Connections will require the water system meet the Group B or Group A public water system requirements of Article III [PDF] of the Sanitary Code. This includes a design of the proposed system expansion by a qualified water system designer or engineer and subsequent approval by the Health Division or WA Dept of Health, if applicable.

Review Process / Final Approval

1. Submit copy of an approved Well Site Supplemental Application [PDF]. See Well Site Application/Inspection (below) for requirements.
   NOTE: An approved well site application is required prior to drilling and before the Water System Design Application can be submitted.
2. Submit a completed Group B or 2-Party Water System Design Application [PDF] form. Also submit with the application:
• Well capacity tests confirming at least 800 gallons per day (gpd) are available.
• Water quality results for bacteriological and nitrate analysis. Other tests may be required if the well is located in or near an area of suspected groundwater contamination.
• Site plan showing the proposed well location, water lines, and potential contaminant sources.
• Copies of the signed, notarized, and recorded Well Isolation Covenants (see below) around the well.
• Copies of the signed, notarized, and recorded access easements for the well and water lines.
• Construction plans for the well and pump house (Appendix A found in the Group B or 2-Party Water System Design Application [PDF] can be used instead).

NOTE: If the water system is within a city jurisdiction or Thurston County Coordinated Water System Plan Urban Service Area [PDF], the Health Division will mail the application to the applicable jurisdictional authority and will hold permit issuance until their review and comment is completed.

Complete application package requirements are outlined on the Well Site Supplemental Application [PDF], Group B or 2-Party Water System Design Supplemental Application [PDF], and Water System Design Guidelines [PDF].

Well Site Application/Inspection

Prior to drilling a new well or obtaining approval for an existing well to serve a 2-Party, Group B, or Group A public water system, the location of the well must first be approved by the Health Division.

If you are obtaining approval for an existing well and unable to locate the original well driller's water well report, the Locating or Recreating a Water Well Report Fact Sheet [PDF] provides information on how to locate or recreate a water well report and the information needed to demonstrate adequate well construction and capacity.

Review Process / Final Approval Checklist

1. Submit a completed Master Application [PDF] and Well Site Supplemental Application [PDF] package to the Permit Assistance Center with the applicable fee (see Fee Schedule [PDF]).
2. Include with the application package the following information:
• Project site plan — include the proposed well site, 100-foot sanitary control area around the well, any structures, all septic system components, drainage ditches, stormwater infiltration ponds, and public roads within 200 feet.
• Proposed well site — location flagged on the property

Complete application package requirements are outlined on the Well Site Supplemental Application [PDF] and Well Site Guidelines [PDF].

Health Division staff will review the well site application and issue approval, if all requirements are met. (This includes an on-site evaluation of topography, potential contaminant sources, and hydrologic suitability of the well location.) Once the well site has received approval, contact a licensed well driller to have the well drilled and tested for capacity and water quality.

NOTE: Prior to drilling, a Start Notification should be sent to both the Washington State Department of Ecology and Thurston County Environmental Health Division, by the well driller. For additional information and application form, see For Well Drillers Only.

Well Isolation Covenants

The owner of a public water supply is required to have physical control over the well isolation area (normally a 100-foot radius). Generally, this is accomplished through the filing of protective covenants (either a Declaration of Covenant [PDF] or Restrictive Covenant [PDF], or both) for the well isolation area.

• Declaration of Covenant — filed when the water supplier owns all or part of the area in the sanitary control area
• Restrictive Covenant — filed when someone other than the water supplier owns portions of the sanitary control area

It is important that the covenants are obtained prior to drilling a well or completing the water system design (see Covenant Fact Sheet [PDF] for instructions and examples).