PORT ANGELES — A stage 4 water shortage alert has clamped down on outdoor watering for the 566 customers of the Upper Fairview Water District.
The state Department of Ecology directed the Clallam County Public Utility District to issue the alert immediately, the PUD announced Wednesday.
The alert requires mandatory restrictions on all outdoor water use.
“No outdoor water shall be used except in an emergency situation,” said Mike Kitz, PUD water and wastewater system superintendent.
“In particular, this means no lawn/garden watering or vehicle washing.”
Customers are being notified directly, the PUD said.
The Upper Fairview Water District area includes all water services south of the Olympic Motorcycle Club on Deer Park Road and south of John Jacobs Road off O’Brien Road.
The district relies on Morse Creek for water.
“Morse Creek water levels are low,” said Mike Howe, PUD spokesman.
No other districts overseen by the Clallam PUD have restrictions now.
Other districts
The Lower Fairview, Evergreen and Carlsborg water districts depend on ground water.
Groundwater levels are currently near normal for this time of year, Howe said, adding that it is uncertain whether the groundwater levels will be extremely low like streamflows this spring.
“This ground-surface water interaction is being watched closely this year,” he said.
“The outcome could be that the district issues outdoor water restrictions in all of our other water districts.”
The Gales Addition, Monroe and Mount Angeles water districts depend on purchased water supplied by the city of Port Angeles.
“We share their water source, which is the Elwha River,” Howe said.
“The PUD is coordinating with the city on their drought response.”
Districts on the West End — Clallam Bay-Sekiu and Island View — do not depend on snowpack and may not experience drought-related problems but are still encouraged to conserve water, Howe said.
The PUD began water conservation measures on all of its properties in March after Gov. Jay Inslee declared a drought emergency for the North Olympic region due to the lack of snowpack.
On May 15, he declared the emergency to be statewide.
“It’s important for everyone to conserve water during these times of drought, so we, too, are taking action,” said Doug Nass, PUD general manager.
He said the PUD is cutting back on outdoor watering and vehicle washing.
The PUD recently launched a water conservation campaign. Tips can be found at www.clallampud.net.
