Sept. 22 (UPI) — Seattle Parks and Recreation is urging its 1.5 million customers to conserve water amid an unprecedented dry spell.
Residents and businesses of the city of Seattle and the surrounding region are being asked to take fewer showers, fix leaks, run only full loads of laundry or dishes and stop watering their lawns, among a plethora over other water-conserving methods the utility suggested Thursday to reduce water consumption.
The Pacific Northwest experienced a relatively dry summer that is leading into a parched autumn, stressing Seattle’s mountain reservoirs and raising concerns at the utility about having sufficient water supply.
SPR said it is averaging about 149 million gallons of water use per day, but it is shooting for 100 million gallons daily through its conservation methods, which are currently voluntary, until enough rain falls to resupply 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 a statement.
“If we work together to reduce water use in our homes, businesses and outside, we can meet this goal.”
SPR said in a separate statement Thursday that it will be reducing its own use of water by limiting irrigation for non-high-use lawns, most garden beds and golf courses as well as turning off decorative fountains and only washing vehicles for health and safety reasons.
“The majority of Seattle Parks and Recreation’s water use is on irrigation,” it said, “and thus that is where we focus our conservation efforts.”
The last time SPU asked customers to voluntarily use less water was in 2015, which was also the last time it activated its Water Shortage Contingency Plan.