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Marysville passes drought plan

Published 9:00 pm Monday, October 8, 2001

By Theresa Goffredo / Herald Writer

By Theresa Goffredo

Herald Writer

MARYSVILLE — Marysville council members Monday took a step to tighten the screws on conservation violators should the town’s water spigots threaten to run dry.

In a majority decision, the council agreed to add a drought response plan to an already existing ordinance that kicks in when water shortages are a threat. The new plan mirrors one used by Everett, which supplies Marysville with 50 percent of its water from Spada Reservoir. The council voted 5-1 in favor of adopting the drought plan with Councilwoman NormaJean Dierck opposed and Councilwoman Donna Pedersen absent.

In adopting the plan, Marysville is following Gov. Gary Locke’s mandate requiring all Washington cities to develop drought response plans. The mandate was made in March when the state faced a severe water shortage.

"This is a more proactive approach, focusing on the demand side," the city’s public works superintendent Larry Larson said.

Before the city resorts to the drought response plan, other water restrictions kick in first. Those restrictions prohibit the nonessential use of water, such as watering sidewalks, lawns or refilling a swimming pool. Also, the city can suspend any new homes or businesses from connecting to Marysville’s water system, and the city can impose emergency water rationing.

If those measures don’t improve the situation, the city can then impose the drought response plan. The plan takes effect in four stages:

  • During the advisory stage, the city alerts residents after April 1 that Spada Reservoir is less than 80 percent capacity.

  • During the voluntary stage, residents are asked to reduce water use because the reservoir is less than 70 percent capacity.

  • The mandatory stage requires residents to eliminate all nonessential water uses.

  • In the emergency stage, stringent restrictions are in place, rate surcharges may be imposed and violators using water unnecessarily are subject to fines

    You can call Herald Writer Theresa Goffredo at 425-339-3097

    or send e-mail to goffredo@heraldnet.com.

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