Abuse of the domestic well exemption is a longstanding problem in the Yakima Basin.  In 2002 the Supreme Court ruled that domestic wells are just like any other water right and subject to the priority system of western water law:   first in time, first in right.  Despite the Court’s ruling, Kittitas County is allowing use of domestic wells without regard to the harm to water right holders, including farmers, the Yakama Nation, and municipalities such as Roslyn. Thousands of senior and junior water right holders could be affected.