Posted: August 03, 2009 17:44:20 PST
Public Works Director Ted Carlson has lifted the Declaration of Emergency Water Shortage and Order Imposing Mandatory Outdoor Water Restrictions, effective Tuesday, August 4, 2009. Residents are asked to continue the voluntary outdoor watering schedule that was in effect prior to the declared emergency.
“Bellingham residents have done a great job of conserving water in response to the mandatory restrictions,” said Public Works Director Ted Carlson. “Consumption of treated water has continued to decrease throughout the weekend enabling us to fill our water reservoirs and cut back on water production.”
The turbidity in the raw water coming into the water treatment plant is still high. City laboratory staff reports that lake scientists from Seattle Public Utilities and Dr. Robin Matthews from WWU have confirmed that the filters are being clogged by a blue-green algae that produces huge volumes of mucilage (gelatin-like mucus). Staff is looking at options for responding to the problem, but ultimately it will depend on keeping the water demand low and reducing nutrients in the lake that feed the algae.
The city is asking residents to continue conserving in any way they can and adhere to the following voluntary watering schedule until September 15:
• 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
“We are confident that our citizens will continue to conserve so that we will not need to return to mandatory restrictions the rest of the summer," said Mayor Dan Pike.
For more information and water conservation tips, visit the city’s website at www.cob.org and search on water conservation. Citizens can get their water conservation questions answered on the Bellingham Herald website at http://www.bellinghamherald.com/qna/forum/water/index.html
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Media Contact:
Ted Carlson, Director
Public Works Department
360-778-7900
