Washington winemakers have a new water quality permit to comply with

BELLEVUE, Wash. — Washington unveils a new water quality permit to regulate wineries statewide.

The Washington Department of Ecology says the permit establishes practices to help wineries manage wastewater with the environment in mind.

The agency worked with local winemakers to develop the permit, minimizing financial and operational burdens.

Winemaking generates a corrosive wastewater that can damage soil and crops, kill aquatic life, damage wastewater treatment plants, and poison groundwater if not properly managed.

Washington is among the largest wine-producing states in the nation, second only to California.

The permit will go into effect in July.