Voluntary water curtailment hitting 10-percent goal, according to Cascade Water Alliance
Published 12:20 pm Wednesday, August 26, 2015
Cascade Water Alliance commended its members and residents for contributing to the region’s collective reduction of its water use by 10 percent over the last two weeks, hitting the goal set by Everett, Seattle and Tacoma. The regional water suppliers ask customers to continue their efforts to reduce water use to stretch water supplies until the rainy season. Updates on use will be issued every other week.
Cascade and its members, Redmond, Bellevue, Kirkland, Issaquah, Tukwila and the Sammamish Plateau and Skyway water and sewer districts, get their drinking water from the Seattle water supply. Historic low river levels, combined with record-setting hot and dry weather have significantly increased the demand for water.
“Since the announcement two weeks ago, there has been (some) rain and the weather continues to be very warm,” said Chuck Clarke, Cascade CEO. “These water use reductions — and continued curtailment of water use — will help the region further maximize its water supply for people and fish.”
The voluntary reduction target is met when actual water use is at least 10 percent less than what was anticipated without voluntary curtailments. The amount of water supplied since requesting voluntary curtailments is compared to the 2015 seasonal projection of water supply needs for the same period. These projections assume no water use reductions and continued warm, dry conditions such as the region has experienced this year.
“We thank residents and businesses for cutting their water use by at least 10 percent, and ask that they continue to curtail their use of water,” said Clarke.
Cascade recommends the following:
• Let the lawn go dormant
• Limit plant watering to twice a week
• Water plants before 8 a.m. or after 7 p.m.
• Take shorter showers
• Turn off the water when brushing your teeth
• Wash only full loads in your dishwasher and washing machine
• Fix leaking faucets and toilets
• Take your car to a commercial car wash that recycles water
• Turn off all non-recirculating water features
• Postpone new plantings until fall.
For more information about Cascade’s water efficiency programs, tips and free water saving items, visit www.cascadewater.org
For more information on the voluntary curtailment announcement, visit www.seattle.gov/util
