Sewage grinder pumps

AN ACT Relating to regulating sewage grinder pumps for new 1
residential buildings; adding a new section to chapter 35.21 RCW; 2
adding a new section to chapter 35A.21 RCW; adding a new section to 3
chapter 36.01 RCW; and adding a new section to chapter 57.02 RCW.4
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON:5
NEW SECTION. Sec. 1. A new section is added to chapter 35.21 6
RCW to read as follows: 7
(1) No city or town may prohibit the installation of sewage 8
grinder pumps for new residential buildings that: 9
(a) Are located below grade of a public sewer line;10
(b) Are connected to a low-pressure sewer system;11
(c) Are located at a distance from a public sewer line that 12
gravity alone cannot effectively move wastewater to the public sewer 13
system; 14
(d) Must move wastewater vertically; 15
(e) Are located in a new residential community where geologic 16
site conditions or excessive topography cannot support the expense of 17
a gravity sewer system. 18
(2) For purposes of this section: 19
S-3938.1
SENATE BILL 6234
State of Washington 69th Legislature 2026 Regular Session
By Senators Liias and Salomon
p. 1 SB 6234
(a) "Sewage grinder pump" means a system connected to a 1
residential building's wastewater system that collects, grinds, and 2
pumps residential sewage into the public sewer system.3
(b) "Low-pressure sewer system" means a wastewater system that 4
requires pressure from sewage grinder pumps to transport wastewater.5
NEW SECTION. Sec. 2. A new section is added to chapter 35A.21 6
RCW to read as follows: 7
(1) No code city may prohibit the installation of sewage grinder 8
pumps for new residential buildings that: 9
(a) Are located below grade of a public sewer line;10
(b) Are connected to a low-pressure sewer system;11
(c) Are located at a distance from a public sewer line that 12
gravity alone cannot effectively move wastewater to the public sewer 13
system; 14
(d) Must move wastewater vertically; 15
(e) Are located in a new residential community where geologic 16
site conditions or excessive topography cannot support the expense of 17
a gravity sewer system. 18
(2) For purposes of this section: 19
(a) "Sewage grinder pump" means a system connected to a 20
residential building's wastewater system that collects, grinds, and 21
pumps residential sewage into the public sewer system.22
(b) "Low-pressure sewer system" means a wastewater system that 23
requires pressure from sewage grinder pumps to transport wastewater.24
NEW SECTION. Sec. 3. A new section is added to chapter 36.01 25
RCW to read as follows: 26
(1) No county may prohibit the installation of sewage grinder 27
pumps for new residential buildings that: 28
(a) Are located below grade of a public sewer line;29
(b) Are connected to a low-pressure sewer system;30
(c) Are located at a distance from a public sewer line that 31
gravity alone cannot effectively move wastewater to the public sewer 32
system; 33
(d) Must move wastewater vertically; 34
(e) Are located in a new residential community where geologic 35
site conditions or excessive topography cannot support the expense of 36
a gravity sewer system. 37
(2) For purposes of this section: 38
p. 2 SB 6234
(a) "Sewage grinder pump" means a system connected to a 1
residential building's wastewater system that collects, grinds, and 2
pumps residential sewage into the public sewer system.3
(b) "Low-pressure sewer system" means a wastewater system that 4
requires pressure from sewage grinder pumps to transport wastewater.5
NEW SECTION. Sec. 4. A new section is added to chapter 57.02 6
RCW to read as follows: 7
(1) No water-sewer district may prohibit the installation of 8
sewage grinder pumps for new residential buildings that:9
(a) Are located below grade of a public sewer line;10
(b) Are connected to a low-pressure sewer system;11
(c) Are located at a distance from a public sewer line that 12
gravity alone cannot effectively move wastewater to the public sewer 13
system; 14
(d) Must move wastewater vertically; 15
(e) Are located in a new residential community where geologic 16
site conditions or excessive topography cannot support the expense of 17
a gravity sewer system. 18
(2) For purposes of this section: 19
(a) "Sewage grinder pump" means a system connected to a 20
residential building's wastewater system that collects, grinds, and 21
pumps residential sewage into the public sewer system.22
(b) "Low-pressure sewer system" means a wastewater system that 23
requires pressure from sewage grinder pumps to transport wastewater.24
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p. 3 SB 6234