CLALLAM BAY-SEKIU — Clallam County Public Utility District is calling for voluntary conservation in the Clallam Bay/Sekiu Water System and instituting outdoor water use restrictions for the 33 members of the Island View Water District just west of Clallam Bay-Sekiu.
The water alerts in both areas — which rely heavily upon rainfall rather than snowpack — were announced Friday after a lack of rain and high temperatures since May.
Other PUD water systems — Fairview, Gales Addition, Monroe, Mount Angeles, Carlsborg, Evergreen and Panoramic Heights — do not have any active water drought response plans in effect, said Nicole Clark, communications manager for the PUD.
The alert for Island View Water System, which is about 10 miles west of Sekiu, calls for water utility customers there to begin outdoor water use restrictions.
This is a Stage 3 response from the district’s drought response plan. Effective immediately, customers are asked to limit outdoor water use to Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays.
Vehicle washing, except for safety related purposes, is prohibited.
Water for the Island View Water System is supplied from Olsen Creek.
Based on streamflow data collected by the USGS, the PUD predicts that Olsen Creek streamflow will drop to 0.077 cfs within three weeks.
That meets the criteria for a Stage 3 response, Clark said.
A Stage 2 alert — calling for voluntary conservation — was issued for the Clallam Bay/Sekiu Water System, which serves 351 customers.
Water for the Clallam Bay/Sekiu Water System — which provides water for Clallam Bay, Sekiu and the Clallam Bay Corrections Center — is supplied from a well field near the Hoko River.
“Groundwater sources do have a greater resiliency to drought compared to surface water sources; however, streamflow is used an indicator of upcoming groundwater shortages in this region,” Clark said.
Based on Hoko River streamflow data collected by the USGS, the PUD predicts that the Hoko River streamflow will drop to about 14 cfs within three weeks.
Other ways suggested for conserving water are fixing leaky faucets and toilets, taking shorter showers and no baths, installing low-flow shower heads and faucets, operating automatic dish and clothes washers only when full and using water efficient appliances.
The PUD also suggests reusing household water by collecting the water that runs while waiting for the hot water to reach the faucet. This water can be used for houseplants or outdoor plants.
For a more comprehensive list of actions to save water or to access more information on water conservation go to www.wateruseitwisely.com.
