Last week, we saw record high temperatures up to 111° Fahrenheit. Increasing stressors, like rising temperatures and droughts associated with climate change, in combination with population growth and land development are all threatening the health of our river. The Spokane Valley-Rathdrum Prairie Aquifer contains about 10 trillion gallons of water (Spokane County Water Resources, n.d.). One would assume we have an endless water supply, why should we be worried about conservation? Most of our water use occurs in the spring and summer months, when outdoor irrigation is highest. In 2019, outdoor residential water use was 553 gallons per day per household compared to indoor water use of 113 gallons per day (City of Spokane Water Department, 2020). The city reports delivering up to 180 million gallons of water per day (City of Spokane Public Works & Utilities, n.d.). The aquifer and our river are connected. The aquifer actually contributes 59% of the water moving through the river every year (Spokane County Water Resources, 2020). Higher rates of water use lead to lower levels in the aquifer, and less water for our river.
Using water wisely and reducing water waste is possible, even in a semi-arid climate region like that of Spokane. Spokane Riverkeeper looked into a few cities that have been successful in reducing their water use. These models can provide an example for our city and prove that community efforts can make a difference in protecting our natural resources.
Salt Lake City (SLC), Utah, has been working on water conservation since 1999, and residents there have reduced their water use by 29% since 2000, exceeding the Utah statewide goal of 25% reduction by 2025 (Salt Lake City Public Utilities, 2020). SLC provides residential water users with information on water-wise landscaping and provides lawn sprinkler check-ups for homeowners (Salt Lake City Public Utilities, 2014). A tiered rate structure ensures affordable rates for appropriate water usage (Salt Lake City Public Utilities, 2020). SLC also developed a Water Shortage Contingency Plan in 2003, which aims to minimize negative impacts of water shortages by identifying daily water reduction targets and voluntary or mandatory actions for water users, such as reduced lawn watering (Salt Lake City Public Utilities, 2014).
In California, Santa Barbara’s water conservation efforts began in the 1970s (Maddaus Water Management Inc., 2020). California set statewide goals for urban water agencies to reduce per capita (per person) water usage by 20% before the end of 2020, and Santa Barbara has achieved a 30% reduction in that time frame (Maddaus Water Management Inc., 2020). Similar to SLC, Santa Barbara also instituted a tiered rate structure to encourage appropriate water use and they too offer water checkups and provide feedback to residents on how to improve water efficiency both indoors and outdoors (Maddaus Water Management Inc., 2020). A city ordinance adopted in 1989, prohibits the waste of water, including activities that cause runoff beyond a property’s boundaries, failure to repair leaks or ruptures within 72 hours after notice by the city, and irrigating during the 48 hours following a measurable rainfall event (Maddaus Water Management Inc., 2020). Like SLC, Santa Barbara developed a Water Shortage Contingency Plan in 2016, to reduce citywide water consumption during times of drought or other water shortages (City of Santa Barbara Water Resources Division, 2015).
Even our neighbors in Post Falls, Idaho, are working to conserve water. They too have a tiered rate structure for residential water customers (City of Post Falls Utilities Billing, 2020). A 2003 city ordinance restricts outdoor watering and irrigation during certain hours of the day, which may be revised in the case of a declared water shortage or emergency (Code Library, n.d.). Post Falls also offers utility bill credit for residents who take a course on how to landscape with native plants that are adapted to this drier climate (City of Post Falls Water Division, 2017). The Water Division provides ongoing education and outreach to ensure their conservation efforts continue to be successful.
These cities provide powerful models for us to follow. Spokane developed a water conservation plan in 2020 that incorporates similar programs and incentives. Upgrading that plan with drought response planning and proper conservation targets will be critical to protect the Spokane River. As the State of Washington has not set specific water reduction targets, Spokane will need to strengthen its own goals in order to maintain water resiliency and to protect the Spokane River and its ecosystems. Although the drought response plan and conservation targets will be deliberated on in a separate process from that of pricing water, tiered water pricing will also be critical to reducing water waste and protecting water for the river. Cities across the west have priced water to incentivize smart use and we will need to do the same to protect the river.
We referenced other cities utilities pages to determine how Spokane’s tiered water rate structure compares in dollars and cents.
Do some research on your own and see what other cities are doing to conserve water. Spokane will recommend modified water conservation targets and a drought response plan later this year. Please watch our feed and be ready to get involved by giving the city council input. If you want to be on a list that specifically notifies you as to when this process will occur, please email us or comment below. If you find a community that is using water sustainably, share those examples with us. It is important, now more than ever, to use water wisely for our community, our river, and our future.
Spokane River at Bowl and Pitcher in 2015, flowing at only 630 cubic feet per second
Photo credit: John Osborn - Upper Columbia River Group - Sierra Club
References
City Council of the city of Pullman. (2015). Resolution No. R-27-15 Water Utility Fee Schedule. https://www.pullman-wa.gov/UserFiles/Servers/Server_15252867/File/Departments/Finance-Admin/Res%20No%20R-27-15%20Water%20Utility%20Fee%20Sched.pdf
City of Post Falls Utilities Billing. (2020, October 1). Utility Rates. https://www.postfallsidaho.org/FinanceDept/UtilitySignupfiles/UtilityRates.pdf
City of Post Falls Water Division. (2017). 2017 Water Division Spring Newsletter. http://www.postfallsidaho.org/street_water/Water/CityNL2017.pdf
City of Spokane Public Works & Utilities. (2021). 2021 Single Family Residential Utilities Rates. https://my.spokanecity.org/publicworks/utility-billing/rates/
City of Spokane Public Works & Utilities. (n.d.). Water. https://my.spokanecity.org/publicworks/water
City of Spokane Water Department. (2020). City of Spokane Water Conservation Master Plan. https://static.spokanecity.org/documents/publicworks/water/water-conservation-master-plan-2020-04-27.pdf
City of Santa Barbara Water Resources Division. (2015). City of Santa Barbara Urban Water Management Plan 2015 Update. https://www.santabarbaraca.gov/civicax/filebank/blobdload.aspx?BlobID=173183
City of Yakima Utility Services. (2021). Domestic Water Service Rates. https://www.yakimawa.gov/services/utility-services/
Code Library. (n.d.). Post Falls, ID Code of Ordinances: 13.12.030: Irrigation and Outside Watering. https://codelibrary.amlegal.com/codes/postfallsid/latest/postfalls_id/0-0-0-2774
Maddaus Water Management Inc. (2020, Dec 3). City of Santa Barbara Water Conservation Strategic Plan: Making Conservation a Santa Barbara Way of Life. https://www.santabarbaraca.gov/civicax/filebank/blobdload.aspx?BlobID=230311
Salt Lake City Public Utilities. (2014). 2014 Salt Lake City Water Conservation Master Plan. http://www.slcdocs.com/utilities/PDF%20Files/2014%20SLC%20Water%20Conservation%20Master%20Plan.pdf
Salt Lake City Public Utilities. (2020). 2020 Salt Lake City Water Conservation Plan. http://www.slcdocs.com/utilities/PDF%20Files/conservation/2020Water%20ConservationPlan-DRAFT.pdf
Seattle Public Utilities. (2020). Residential Drinking Water Rates. https://www.seattle.gov/utilities/your-services/accounts-and-payments/rates/water/residential-water-rates
Spokane County Water Resources. (2020). 2020 Annual water quality monitoring report Spokane Valley-Rathdrum Prairie aquifer long term monitoring program. https://www.spokanecounty.org/DocumentCenter/View/36112/2020-SVRP-Groundwater-Monitoring-Report-PDF
Spokane County Water Resources. (n.d.). Spokane Valley-Rathdrum Prairie Aquifer. https://www.spokanecounty.org/1219/Spokane-Valley-Rathdrum-Prairie-Aquifer
Tacoma Public Utilities. (2021). Water Rates. https://www.mytpu.org/payment-billing/rate-information/water-rates/#pattern_1