PORT TOWNSEND — The Port Townsend City Council tonight unanimously approved Stage 1 water restrictions that include requiring outdoor watering on alternate days.
Restrictions come into effect immediately.
Stage 1 of the three-stage water conservation plan aims to reach targets of a 10 percent reduction in water use within the city and a 15 percent cutback in consumption for the Port Townsend Paper Corp.
Direct contact with the heaviest water users will continue.
These users include the Port Townsend Golf Course, Fort Worden State Park, Jefferson Healthcare hospital, Port Townsend School District and the Food Co-op.
If Stage 2 comes into effect, the Port Townsend Paper mill, Jefferson County’s largest employer, would cease operations, City Manager David Timmons has said.
The trigger for Stage 2 would be Lords Lake — a Quilcene reservoir that, along with City Lake, serves as a backup city water supply — falling to 3 feet.
Lords Lake is now at about 37 feet, and Stage 2 isn’t expected to be reached until about October.
Stage 3 would result in water rationing.
Timmons said the mill already has reduced water consumption and is now using 10 million gallons daily, down from 12 million a few months ago.
While recognizing this, council members called for a plan from the mill to further reduce its water use and provide a plan to do so.
“I think the mill needs to come forward and let the public know what’s going on and how they are going to meet these restrictions,” Councilwoman Michelle Sandoval said.
Added Councilwoman Pamela Adams: “We should be more concerned about the people of Port Townsend than the mill.
“They should implement these conservation measures sooner rather than later.”
The mill schedules a yearly maintenance shutdown in the fall.
Adams suggested that it should take place in August or September rather than October or November when the conservation process is more crucial.
Mill officials have not provided details about how many employees would be laid off or retained if the mill must shut down.
On July 20, the council approved an emergency declaration concerning water supply and fire hazards.
Monday’s action continued and refined those restrictions.
Water conservation will be on each council agenda until the crisis is over.
“That way we’ll be addressing this every two weeks,” Mayor David King said.
A full report on the meeting will appear in the Wednesday edition of the Peninsula Daily News.
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Jefferson County Editor Charlie Bermant can be reached at 360-385-2335 or cbermant@peninsuladailynews.com.
