Water Shortage

WATER SHORTAGE: WHAT WE'RE DOING

Because of the drought emergency Governor Gregoire has declared, Seattle Parks and Recreation is taking immediate action to save water. Mayor Nickels activated the city's Water Shortage Contingency Plan on March 16 because of the lower than usual show pack in the mountains. We are acting early and hope you will do so at home too.

Here's what we're doing at Parks:

• Inspecting our irrigation systems to make sure they are in good repair.
• Preparing to follow our water shortage plan, which enables us to use much less water while protecting our valuable landscape assets.
• Giving careful consideration to, and preparing to make changes in, how we use water for our wading pool program, our irrigation systems, and cleaning hard surfaces.
• Following these tips from Seattle Public Utilities on how to use water wisely; we hope you'll follow them at home too.
  • Put shutoff valves on outdoor hoses, and use them!
  • Don't leave water running in sinks when you don't need it.
  • Use water diffusers on sink faucets.
  • Wash only full loads of clothes.
  • Fix leaking toilets and faucets.

Water Shortage Contingency Plan

This plan provides guidelines for a systematic response, should the need arise, to reduce
demand in the event of a water supply disruption or weather related water shortage.
 » Water Shortage Contingency Plan (PDF)
 » Water Shortage Contingency Plan Spreadsheet (PDF)
 » Plans for Newly Established or Planned Landscapes (PDF)
 » Seattle Public Utilities water use tips

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