Group B Water Systems

Cowlitz County Health & Human Services (CCHHS) regulates Group B public water systems under WAC 246-291 and the Cowlitz County Group B Ordinance". Group B Public Water Systems are those systems that serve less than 25 people per day and consist of 3-14 connection residential systems or non-residential systems that serve less than 25 people per day.

Group B Regulations 

Current Group B Compliance Requirements

Group B Approval Process

New or expanding Group B Public Water Systems are required to get approval prior to construction. The approval for Group B systems is done by CCHHS, while Group A systems require approval from the Washington State Department of Health, which includes proposed Group B systems with 10 connections or more.

Approval Documents

Group B Approval Process
Group B Water System Design Guidelines
Group B Design Submittal Workbook
WAC 246-291: Group B Public Water Systems
Cowlitz County Group B Ordinance
Cowlitz County Satellite Management Agencies
Covenants for Group B Public Water Supply Protection
Template for Declaration of Covenant and Restrictive Covenants
Example Informational Notice for Property Titles
Complete IOC Test for Group B Systems
Certified Drinking Water Labs
Lewis County List of Engineers

Clark County List of Water Service Providers

For best results, please download the following forms and open in a PDF viewer (e.g., Foxit or Adobe Reader) before filling out:
Well Site Inspection Application
Plan Review Receipt

Resources for Group B Water Systems 

Group B Newsletters

Volume 1 (2006)
Volume 2 (2007)
Volume 3 (2009)
Volume 4 (2010)
Volume 5 (2011)
Volume 6 (2012)
Volume 7 (2013)
Volume 8 (2014)
Volume 9 (2015)

Group B Operational Factsheets

Group B Preventive Maintenance Guide
DOH Group B Operations Webpage Typical Pumphouse Piping
Pest Control
Troubleshooting Bladder Pressure Tanks
Sanitary Protection of Reservoirs: Vents
Sanitary Protection of Reservoirs: Hatches
Simple Fixes for Wellhead Openings
Satellite Management Agencies for Cowlitz County

Coliform Information

Coliform Bacteria Factsheet
Coliform Public Advisory Packet
E. coli Notification Form (Group B)
Coliform Sampling Procedures
Emergency Disinfection Procedures
Drinking Water Labs Near Cowlitz County

Other Information

Group B WAC: 246-291
Arsenic Factsheet
Arsenic Notification Form (Group B)
Abandoned Water Wells
DOH Drinking Water Publications Website
Generator Transfer Switch Requirements