Whatcom County Residents Using City Water Urged to Conserve

Voluntary efforts to cut back water use are paying off, but City officials say we must still be vigilant about reducing water use in light of algae problems at the City’s water treatment plant.

Unusually high levels of algae in Lake Whatcom continues to clog filters at the treatment plant, reducing the amount of treated water that can be produced.  The quality of the drinking water has not been compromised and continues to meet all state and federal regulations.

A mandatory outdoor watering ban was in place for five days to reduce water demand and replenish reservoir supplies. Mandatory restrictions were lifted Aug. 4, and City officials are now relying on voluntary conservation measures to reduce water demand.

Public Works Director Ted Carlson said so far, voluntary conservation efforts are working very well. Water consumption during July and August regularly averages between 17-18 million gallons of water per day citywide.  With mandatory restrictions in place, daily use was as low as 10.4 million gallon per day, recorded Saturday, Aug. 1. Water consumption since the mandatory restrictions were lifted has climbed slightly, with use of 13.5 million gallons on Wednesday Aug. 5.

“City water customers are doing a great job conserving water, and we urge them to keep up the good work,” he said.  “Consumption of treated water continues to be significantly less than is typical in August, enabling us to keep our water reservoirs full despite the challenges the algae is causing.”

Carlson will provide an update on the water situation to the Bellingham City Council during its regular meeting at 7 p.m. Monday, August 10. The meeting will be aired live in progress, and rebroadcast later, on the City’s television station BTV10.

Water treatment plant filters are being clogged by a non-toxic blue-green algae that produces huge volumes of gelatin-like mucus. Carlson said other large water providers that depend upon surface water sources of supply, such as the City of Seattle and City of Everett, are experiencing similar problems of unusually high levels of algae in their source water. He and his colleagues in other places continue to research solutions.

“Meanwhile, we depend on keeping water demand low and I want to thank Bellingham residents and business owners for their outstanding water conservation efforts. They are really making the difference and, so far, preventing further mandatory water restrictions,” he said.

The city is asking residents to adhere to the following voluntary outdoor watering schedule:

    *  Odd numbered street addresses water only on Wednesdays, Fridays, and Sundays
    *  Even numbered street addresses water only on Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays
    *  No outdoor watering on Mondays to allow our water supply to recharge

For more information and water conservation tips, visit the city’s website at www.cob.org.

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