Everett asks residents to curtail nonessential water use

EVERETT — Metro Puget Sound cities, including Everett, are asking their residents and businesses to curtail all nonessential uses of water.

The advisory is the second stage of the drought response plan adopted by the cities of Everett, Seattle and Tacoma.

The persistent drought has caused abnormally low water levels at Spada Lake, Everett’s main reservoir, which has triggered the region to move to the second stage of their Drought Response System.

“We’re asking people to reduce their water use by 10 percent,” said Marla Carter, spokeswoman for Everett’s public works department, which serves an area with a population of about 570,000.

Spada Lake has a visible “tub ring” of exposed shoreline where the water level has dropped.

The most recent measurements put Spada Lake at 64 percent of the normal level for this time of year. The lake has about 26.8 billion gallons of water left, 53 percent of its total 60 billion gallon capacity.

The city is keeping an eye on the long-term forecast, Carter said.

“We feel we have enough water to get through to the fall if we have the rains when we typically do, but that’s looking a little bit iffy,” she said.

In the past 30 days, the area has only had 1.6 inches of rain. Normally there would have been 4.3 inches in that time, Carter said.

The low water level at Spada Lake has also caused the Snohomish County Public Utility District to cut back on power generation at the Jackson Hydroelectric Project, where the reservoir drains into the Sultan River.

Normally this time of year the dam would generate about 20 megawatts of power, enough for about 15,000 homes, said PUD spokesman Neil Neroutsos.

“Right now we’re generating at 14 (megawatts), about two-thirds of that,” Neroutsos said.

The district has other sources of power, and natural gas prices are relatively cheap right now, so the district isn’t anticipating any power shortages, he added.

The PUD also has about 20,000 residential water customers, most of them around Lake Stevens.

The district is taking its cue from the city in asking its customers to reduce their water consumption by 10 percent.

The first stage of the drought response system was triggered July 28. At that time, customers were asked to be more mindful of their water usage, such as only watering plants or lawns after 7 p.m. or before 8 a.m., fixing leaks and sweeping rather than watering sidewalks and patios clean.

Water consumption is still about 13 percent above normal over the last 30 days, so the city is hoping people will limit all non-essential uses of water.

“Consider letting your lawn go brown,” Carter said.

Residents are also asked to limit watering plants to twice a week, limit car washing and other recreational uses of water.

The cities will revisit the water supply and drought conditions in two weeks’ time, Carter said, to see if the plan was successful in reducing consumption.

Chris Winters: 425-374-4165; cwinters@heraldnet.com. Twitter: @Chris_At_Herald.

Talk to us

> Give us your news tips.

> Send us a letter to the editor.

> More Herald contact information.

More in Local News

A firefighter stands in silence before a panel bearing the names of L. John Regelbrugge and Kris Regelbrugge during the ten-year remembrance of the Oso landslide on Friday, March 22, 2024, at the Oso Landslide Memorial in Oso, Washington. (Ryan Berry / The Herald)
‘Flood of emotions’ as Oso Landslide Memorial opens on 10th anniversary

Friends, family and first responders held a moment of silence at 10:37 a.m. at the new 2-acre memorial off Highway 530.

Julie Petersen poses for a photo with images of her sister Christina Jefferds and Jefferds’ grand daughter Sanoah Violet Huestis next to a memorial for Sanoah at her home on March 20, 2024 in Arlington, Washington. Peterson wears her sister’s favorite color and one of her bangles. (Annie Barker / The Herald)
‘It just all came down’: An oral history of the Oso mudslide

Ten years later, The Daily Herald spoke with dozens of people — first responders, family, survivors — touched by the deadliest slide in U.S. history.

Victims of the Oso mudslide on March 22, 2014. (Courtesy photos)
Remembering the 43 lives lost in the Oso mudslide

The slide wiped out a neighborhood along Highway 530 in 2014. “Even though you feel like you’re alone in your grief, you’re really not.”

Director Lucia Schmit, right, and Deputy Director Dara Salmon inside the Snohomish County Department of Emergency Management on Friday, March 8, 2024, in Everett, Washington. (Ryan Berry / The Herald)
How Oso slide changed local emergency response ‘on virtually every level’

“In a decade, we have just really, really advanced,” through hard-earned lessons applied to the pandemic, floods and opioids.

Ron and Gail Thompson at their home on Monday, March 4, 2024 in Oso, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
In shadow of scarred Oso hillside, mudslide’s wounds still feel fresh

Locals reflected on living with grief and finding meaning in the wake of a catastrophe “nothing like you can ever imagine” in 2014.

Starbucks employee Zach Gabelein outside of the Mill Creek location where he works on Friday, Feb. 23, 2024 in Mill Creek, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Mill Creek Starbucks votes 21-1 to form union

“We obviously are kind of on the high of that win,” store bargaining delegate Zach Gabelein said.

Lynnwood police respond to a collision on highway 99 at 176 street SW. (Photo provided by Lynnwood Police)
Southbound lanes on Highway 99 reopen after crash

The crash, on Highway 99 at 176th Street SW, blocked traffic for over an hour. Traffic was diverted to 168th Street SW.

The view of Mountain Loop Mine out the window of a second floor classroom at Fairmount Elementary on Wednesday, Jan. 10, 2024 in Everett, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
County: Everett mining yard violated order to halt work next to school

At least 10 reports accused OMA Construction of violating a stop-work order next to Fairmount Elementary. A judge will hear the case.

Imagine Children's Museum's incoming CEO, Elizabeth "Elee" Wood. (Photo provided by Imagine Children's Museum)
Imagine Children’s Museum in Everett to welcome new CEO

Nancy Johnson, who has led Imagine Children’s Museum in Everett for 25 years, will retire in June.

Kelli Littlejohn, who was 11 when her older sister Melissa Lee was murdered, speaks to a group of investigators and deputies to thank them for bringing closure to her family after over 30 years on Thursday, March 28, 2024, at Snohomish County Superior Court in Everett, Washington. (Ryan Berry / The Herald)
‘She can rest in peace’: Jury convicts Bothell man in 1993 killing

Even after police arrested Alan Dean in 2020, it was unclear if he would stand trial. He was convicted Thursday in the murder of Melissa Lee, 15.

Ariel Garcia, 4, was last seen Wednesday morning in an apartment in the 4800 block of Vesper Dr. (Photo provided by Everett Police)
Search underway to find missing Everett child, 4

Ariel Garcia was last seen Wednesday morning at an apartment in the 4800 block of Vesper Drive.

The rezoned property, seen here from the Hillside Vista luxury development, is surrounded on two sides by modern neighborhoods Monday, March 25, 2024, in Lake Stevens, Washington. (Ryan Berry / The Herald)
Despite petition, Lake Stevens OKs rezone for new 96-home development

The change faced resistance from some residents, who worried about the effects of more density in the neighborhood.

Support local journalism

If you value local news, make a gift now to support the trusted journalism you get in The Daily Herald. Donations processed in this system are not tax deductible.