Published November 10 2015
Fall rains have improved the region's water supply and Bellevue is moving to the lowest stage of its Water Shortage Response Plan, the advisory stage. The city gets its water from the Seattle system, which reported supply reservoirs on the Cedar and South Fork Tolt rivers rose 12 and 14 feet, respectively, during a recent storm and are now at 92 percent of normal for this time of year.
The advisory stage means a potential water supply problem may exist. This is still the case due to an ongoing strong El Niño expected to bring warm weather through the spring. While in the advisory stage, Bellevue asks customers to continue to use water wisely by not wasting it.
Here are some steps that people can take to use water wisely.
Indoor water-saving tips for residents:
- Add 2-3 inches of mulch to the surface of bare soils
- Check for and fix leaks
- Wash only full loads of laundry and dishes
- Turn off the tap while brushing teeth or shaving
- Don't pre-rinse dishes
- If purchasing fixtures/equipment, choose water-efficient models
Indoor water-saving tips for businesses:
- Check for and fix leaks
- Wash only full loads of laundry and dishes
- Provide new towels only on request
- Check cooling towers for overflow and excessive blowdown
- If purchasing fixtures/equipment, choose water-efficient models