Stanwood initiates water conservation steps

Published 11:11 pm Tuesday, February 12, 2008

STANWOOD — Several goals aimed at improving water conservation in Stanwood were recently adopted by the City Council.

Installing water meters at all homes and providing incentives for people to conserve water were among the guidelines that were approved by the council. The council was updating the city’s water use efficiency rule, as mandated by the state Department of Ecology.

“We’re all competing for similar water resources,” Stanwood public works director Andrew Bullington said. “The more we can cut down the potential waste of our potable water system, the better off we’ll all be for our future in Washington.”

The recently adopted water conservation goals were shaped during a public meeting with residents and city officials.

Water use in the city of Stanwood is projected to increase from roughly 920,000 gallons per day in 1999 to 1.45 million gallons per day in 2020, Bullington said. City officials believe water use can be held to 1.3 million gallons per day in 2020 by using proper water conservation methods.

The city is preparing to open up a new well to serve Stanwood residents. Construction is about to start on a new water treatment plant, which will treat 80 percent of the city’s drinking water with chlorine.

The city also has plans to begin building a new reservoir.

Reporter Scott Pesznecker: 425-339-3436 or spesznecker@heraldnet.com.