An unusually dry summer and lower-than-normal water levels at the Lords Lake Reservoir have prompted city officials to ask Port Townsend residents to be mindful of their water usage.
The city …
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An unusually dry summer and lower-than-normal water levels at the Lords Lake Reservoir have prompted city officials to ask Port Townsend residents to be mindful of their water usage.
The city issued a voluntary water conservation notice Sept. 11 for households, businesses and industrial water users.
“Voluntary water conservation means refraining from irrigating,” said Public Works Director Steve King. “It means being diligent about ensuring faucets are turned off and that leaks are fixed.”
The city relies on precipitation in the Olympic Mountains to meet its water needs. Dry conditions this year have accelerated the melting of the snowpack, requiring the city to begin drawing down the Lords Lake Reservoir a few weeks earlier than usual, according to the city.
“The level of Lords Lake is dropping every day,” King wrote.
When full, Lords Lake sits at 34 feet.
On Sept. 11, the lake measured at 24 feet, 2 inches. On the same day last year, it measured at 27 feet, 11 inches.
While some intermittent rainfall may slow the drawdown, the city is asking residents to conserve water until the rainy season begins and river flows are replenished.
The Port Townsend Paper Mill, which uses a significant portion of the water supply, has implemented conservation measures to reduce consumption, according to the city.
If the Lords Lake Reservoir were to run dry, the mill would be required to reduce or cease operations. In that event, the city would begin drawing water from the City Lake Reservoir, which serves as a backup for residents and businesses.
“In other words, we can draw down Lords Lake to zero and still have water for residents,” King wrote.
Barring a major pipeline leak or emergency a mandatory conservation notice is unlikely, he added.
“Residents do not have to worry about running out of water,” he wrote. “The Water Supply Agreement with the Paper Mill reserves water for the City’s use to ensure water availability for residents.”
City Manager John Mauro regularly provides the city council and the public with water level updates during council meetings.
“I do if there are any updates worth noting,” Mauro said when asked if he plans to continue to do so.
