Source: droughtmonitor.unl.edu
With the Puget Sound about to be walloped by its first bout of true Pacific Northwest-level fall and winter rains, Seattle Public Utilities is putting out a call for help that shows just how close the region is cutting it in terms of water supply after an extremely dry summer.
Citing “an unprecedented stretch of dry weather” this summer, SPU is asking residents to cut down on things like showers, watering lawns and flowers, and more as drought conditions have taxed the city’s water supply. SPU says the goal is to drop the average water consumption for the region to 100 million gallons per day and “keep it at or below that level until we get enough rain to refill the mountain reservoirs sufficiently.”
The region is currently averaging use of about 149 million gallons per day, according to SPU.
Officials remain concerned water levels won’t bounce back quickly. “Our hydrologic model suggests a deep drawdown of our mountain reservoirs. Water levels are already lower than average, and we are adjusting to sustain adequate water supply for our customers and the rivers this fall,” Elizabeth Garcia, water resources planner at SPU, said in the announcement. “We are also asking our customers to help, too, by voluntarily reducing their water use.”
Still, some help will arrive soon. Forecasters at the National Weather Services say Seattle is in for at least a week of rain starting this weekend.
With the region under drought conditions, the rain will be welcome but better water use habits will still be valuable as Washington adjusts to its changing climate.
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Rich people won’t do it.
Define ‘rich’, and define ‘won’t do it’.
Yeah right, only poor people do good things. Tell me how you’re conserving water.
Of course they won’t. But as a dyed-in-the-wool patriot I’m happy to take fewer showers and do less laundry for however long it takes.
If they priced water higher, it would cause conservation. Just add a surcharge for customers using more than X gallons per day/month.
Seems obvious to charge more…
The post war suburban style lawn has been one of our greatest sins.
Those of us who water lawns or a garden are literally giving money away to King County and/or Seattle Public Utilities. We get charged for that water out of the tap, and as it is presumed to go down the drain, for sewer treatment. Of course water applied to lawns and gardens generally doesn’t go down the drain, and doesn’t require sewage treatment. It soaks into the ground and is utilized by the plants themselves. So, the rich and those maintaining lawns, gardens, and flower gardens in this city heavily subsidize those of you who rush to complete your two minute shower or only flush every third bowel movement. Consider that, and the beauty evident in privately owned green spaces around the city, our gift to you all.
Whatever you need to tell yourself to get through the day Glenn 🙄😂
Reality check: You are absolutely not “literally giving money away to King County and/or Seattle Public Utilities,” you are exchanging that money for a product, in this case, water. Hey, it’s your money, spend it as you will, but spare us your sanctimony and quit holding for applause from us unwashed plebes.
Yes, I pay for water. But I also pay for processing of the sewage, an amount larger than that paid for the water itself, and that cost is not incurred by the utility when watering a garden or lawn because the water does not go into the sewer system. So I am paying a lot of sewer processing costs without any processing taking place. That is free money for the utility, and a subsidy of the water provider by me, the consumer.
You have a very poor understanding of civil engineering and public utilities, as well as an incredibly inflated sense of self worth 🙄
Thank you Matthew. At least I am serving to distract you so you are no longer inappropriately attacking Joy Hollingsworth. Happy to provide that service.
Asking questions about an issue they brought up themselves is not attacking Glenn, but I see your sense of self worth remains as inflated as ever…
Though I do not water my grass, I have recently had to start watering our trees. The stress put on them from recent heat and nearby development, requires that I endure this expense. Our tree canopy is something our city would like to maintain, so please do not punish those owners who want to keep a live-able city.
If it’s yellow, let it mellow!
no worries.. we’re supposed to get a month’s worth or rain in the next week..
And now we have the start! A relief for sure!
How much water does Broadmoor Golf Club use and why is it allowed to exist in a housing constrained and now water constrained city?
incentivize rain catchment at apartment buildings.