The bill aims to address the critical need for comprehensive information regarding the state's water and sewer systems, highlighting the environmental, public health, and economic implications of current deficiencies. It identifies several pressing issues, including the inability of public works grants to support local governments in maintaining and expanding these systems, the increasing presence of human coliform in residential wells, and the financial limitations faced by county and municipal governments in managing septic systems and providing sewer access. The legislature intends to identify gaps in existing data, assess the costs required for necessary upgrades, and develop recommendations to ensure that water and sewer infrastructure needs are met.

To facilitate this, the bill mandates the Department of Ecology and the Department of Health to jointly conduct a comprehensive assessment of the maintenance and upgrade needs for water and sewer systems across the state. This assessment will involve consulting various stakeholders, including state agencies, local governments, and utilities, to gather detailed information. The resulting needs assessment will include a list of systems requiring critical upgrades, an analysis of associated costs, and potential funding strategies. A report on the findings is required to be submitted to the governor and relevant committees by June 30, 2027.