Published August 11 2015
The City of Bellevue is asking residents and businesses to voluntarily reduce their water use by 10 percent, in partnership with the city's own conservation efforts. This comes as the city has activated its water shortage response -- the result of a historically low snowpack, followed by a historically hot, dry summer, and higher than average water use. If the water supply conditions do not improve, mandatory reductions may be introduced.
Bellevue's water shortage response went into effect July 27 when it joined its water provider, Cascade Water Alliance, as part of a larger regional response by Seattle Public Utilities, Tacoma Water and the City of Everett. The response plan has four stages: advisory, voluntary, mandatory, and emergency curtailment. Currently, Bellevue, which gets its water from the Seattle system, is in the voluntary stage.
The city is relying on the support and cooperation of all water users to conserve the available water supply. Demand needs to be reduced by 10 percent. Customers are responsible for determining how they will meet this goal. Water waste is not allowed. If everyone cooperates, we may avoid imposing more stringent restrictions at a later date. In addition to meeting the essential water needs of customers, meeting the needs of fish and other environmental concerns is a priority.
Ways to save water:
- Cut back unnecessary watering -- consider letting your lawn go dormant.
- Water plants deeply, but infrequently, early in the day or late at night. Mulching planting beds also helps with reducing watering.
- Visit the Waterwise Garden at the Bellevue Botanical Gardens, where residents can learn how they can save water in their own gardens.
- Wash only full loads of laundry in washing machines or dishes in dishwashers.
- Turn the water off. Avoid letting the faucet run when shaving, brushing teeth, and washing.
- Take shorter showers -- even cutting your shower by 2-3 minutes adds up.
- Wash your car infrequently, and when you do take it to a commercial wash where the water is recycled.
- Fix leaks.
- Order and install free water-saving items, including low-flow shower heads and leak detection kits, from Bellevue's water provider -- Cascade Water Alliance.
The city offers water conservation tips. The city is also taking steps to reduce its own water use, including:
Parks and Community Services is cutting back on irrigation by 25 percent. Other examples of water-saving measures include:
- Newer computer-controlled irrigation systems have leak detection, and adjust water use based on current weather and soil conditions.
- New plantings along roadways are being delayed until fall rains come.
Utilities will limit routine maintenance activities that use water until October or November when fall rains are likely to return. This includes flushing of water mains to remove accumulated sediment and minerals. Utilities continuously monitors the water supply to ensure its safety.
Other actions to be taken at city facilities, include:
- Being vigilant in reporting and repairing leaks.
- Conducting irrigation assessments for building landscaping and preventing overwatering
- Asking employees to pledge to conserve water at work and home
- Reducing the flush volume of toilets at City Hall from 1.6 gallons per flush to 1.5.
- Reducing water use in decorative water features at City Hall
- Delaying any major maintenance that requires flushing and filling of equipment until advisory is over
- Reducing fleet vehicle washing.