Parks department launches water conservation measures

Parks will receive less water due to emerging drought conditions.

By Reporter Staff • August 12, 2015 1:10 pm
The playfields at Luther Burbank Park along 84th Avenue S.E. at S.E. 26th Street are scorched from hot weather. Children attending summer camp play in the background on Monday before taking an early water break under the tent at left. In the foreground
The playfields at Luther Burbank Park along 84th Avenue S.E. at S.E. 26th Street are scorched from hot weather. Children attending summer camp play in the background on Monday before taking an early water break under the tent at left. In the foreground

Due to the combination of record-breaking summer heat, high water costs and emerging drought conditions, the city’s Parks and Recreation Department is activating a water conservation program.

Effective immediately, it will implement short-term water reductions in most of the Island’s parks. Even though the grass will turn brown, residents should be assured that these areas will once again green up once the cooler weather returns.

Although the record heat has completely exhausted the Parks Department’s standard utilities budget, the following areas will continue to receive reduced amounts of water for the time being:

-Mercerdale Park

-The Community and Event Center

-All ballfields

-The Sculpture Park

-All newly planted areas

-City Hall

City staff will continue to monitor weather conditions with a priority of maintaining parks with public safety in mind. If Seattle Public Utilities (the Island’s water supplier) advances to the next phase of region-wide water conservation measures, the Parks Department, and other City operations, will implement additional measures.

SPU issued a water level advisory for its service areas on July 27. Everett, Seattle and Tacoma implemented the first stage of their water shortage response plans as a precautionary measure, and to ensure that the region is ready for a potential water shortage. The supply outlook was downgraded from “good” to “fair.”

Some water-saving examples for customers from SPU include:

Water before 8 a.m. or after 7 p.m., which reduces evaporation.

It is better to have one or two deep waterings, rather than several shallow waterings.

Fix obvious indoor and outdoor leaks such as faucets and hose bibs. Check for less obvious leaks such as silent toilet leaks and underground irrigation leaks. For silent toilet leaks, put several drops of food coloring in your toilet tank; after 10 minutes if you have color in the toilet bowl, you have a flapper leak.

Wash your vehicle(s) at locations that recycle their water.

Use a broom rather than a hose to clean sidewalks, driveways, and patios.

Wait until your clothes washer and dishwasher are full before starting a load.

Find more water saving tips at www.savingwater.org.

 

Update: On Aug. 11, Everett, Seattle, and Tacoma moved to the second stage of their water shortage response plans – voluntary reduction.

The three cities are working together to manage water supplies for people and fish during the drought and higher-than-normal water use. They are asking customers to help by voluntarily reducing water use by 10 percent.

If conditions worsen, each city will decide if it will move to the “mandatory” phase and require customers to reduce the amount of water they normally use each day.