Drought prompts water-use advisories in Everett, Seattle and Tacoma

EVERETT — The cities of Everett, Seattle and Tacoma have issued a drought advisory for their water customers.

In Everett, this marks the first time the city has ever activated its Drought Response Plan, which was created in 2001.

“The current level of Spada Lake is at 1412.4 feet elevation, which is about 68 percent of normal for this time of year,” said Marla Carter, a spokeswoman for Everett’s Public Works department.

The city has triggered the first “advisory” stage of its four-stage response plan.

The key message, Carter said, is to ask consumers to use water wisely and to be aware that changing conditions may require further action.

“It’s really precautionary, mostly (because) we’ve had dry conditions,” she said.

“Between Spada and (Lake) Chaplain we’ve got about a seven-month supply in the reservoir. That’s without any more measurable precipitation,” Carter said.

She added that the forecast would be for a dry winter as well, so there will be continued monitoring of the water level in the summer.

If conditions worsen, the city could move to the second stage, which would ask users to voluntarily limit all nonessential domestic uses of water.

Everett supplies water to about 80 percent of all businesses and residents of Snohomish County, including 95 other cities and water districts. Its service area has a population of 570,000.

The Snohomish County Public Utility District serves another 20,000 businesses and residents, and also has moved to the first stage of its drought response plan.

“I think it’s just an overall ‘use water wisely’ advisory,” said Brant Wood, the district’s senior manager of water resources.

The PUD also buys about 75 percent of its water from the city of Everett, and provides the rest from nine separate wells, Wood said.

Generally speaking, the city’s drought plan is activated when water level in Spada Lake or snowpack drops below 80 percent by April 1. The second stage is triggered when the water or snowpack is below 75 percent of normal by June 1 and there is a reasonable probability that conditions will not return to normal.

“We don’t anticipate we’ll be needing to but really trying to be extra cautious,” Carter said.

The city’s drought plan has three goals: to ensure that all customers have an adequate supply of high quality water during droughts, to ensure that there is enough water in the Sultan River for fish habitat, and to ensure there is an adequate amount in storage for hydroelectric power generation, although that may be suspended in severe drought conditions.

Consumers are asked to be mindful of how and when they use water. Some examples of steps they can take include watering plants or lawns before 8 a.m. or after 7 p.m. to reduce evaporation, doing fewer deeper waterings rather than more frequent shallow waterings, fixing leaks in pipes, hoses and faucets, washing cars in facilities that recycle their water, using brooms rather than water to clean sidewalks and patios, and waiting until clothes washers or dishwashers are full before turning them on.

Chris Winters: 425-374-4165; cwinters@heraldnet.com. Twitter: @Chris_At_Herald.

Talk to us

> Give us your news tips.

> Send us a letter to the editor.

> More Herald contact information.

More in Local News

A firefighter stands in silence before a panel bearing the names of L. John Regelbrugge and Kris Regelbrugge during the ten-year remembrance of the Oso landslide on Friday, March 22, 2024, at the Oso Landslide Memorial in Oso, Washington. (Ryan Berry / The Herald)
‘Flood of emotions’ as Oso Landslide Memorial opens on 10th anniversary

Friends, family and first responders held a moment of silence at 10:37 a.m. at the new 2-acre memorial off Highway 530.

Julie Petersen poses for a photo with images of her sister Christina Jefferds and Jefferds’ grand daughter Sanoah Violet Huestis next to a memorial for Sanoah at her home on March 20, 2024 in Arlington, Washington. Peterson wears her sister’s favorite color and one of her bangles. (Annie Barker / The Herald)
‘It just all came down’: An oral history of the Oso mudslide

Ten years later, The Daily Herald spoke with dozens of people — first responders, family, survivors — touched by the deadliest slide in U.S. history.

Victims of the Oso mudslide on March 22, 2014. (Courtesy photos)
Remembering the 43 lives lost in the Oso mudslide

The slide wiped out a neighborhood along Highway 530 in 2014. “Even though you feel like you’re alone in your grief, you’re really not.”

Director Lucia Schmit, right, and Deputy Director Dara Salmon inside the Snohomish County Department of Emergency Management on Friday, March 8, 2024, in Everett, Washington. (Ryan Berry / The Herald)
How Oso slide changed local emergency response ‘on virtually every level’

“In a decade, we have just really, really advanced,” through hard-earned lessons applied to the pandemic, floods and opioids.

Ron and Gail Thompson at their home on Monday, March 4, 2024 in Oso, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
In shadow of scarred Oso hillside, mudslide’s wounds still feel fresh

Locals reflected on living with grief and finding meaning in the wake of a catastrophe “nothing like you can ever imagine” in 2014.

Starbucks employee Zach Gabelein outside of the Mill Creek location where he works on Friday, Feb. 23, 2024 in Mill Creek, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Mill Creek Starbucks votes 21-1 to form union

“We obviously are kind of on the high of that win,” store bargaining delegate Zach Gabelein said.

Lynnwood police respond to a collision on highway 99 at 176 street SW. (Photo provided by Lynnwood Police)
Southbound lanes on Highway 99 reopen after crash

The crash, on Highway 99 at 176th Street SW, blocked traffic for over an hour. Traffic was diverted to 168th Street SW.

The view of Mountain Loop Mine out the window of a second floor classroom at Fairmount Elementary on Wednesday, Jan. 10, 2024 in Everett, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
County: Everett mining yard violated order to halt work next to school

At least 10 reports accused OMA Construction of violating a stop-work order next to Fairmount Elementary. A judge will hear the case.

Imagine Children's Museum's incoming CEO, Elizabeth "Elee" Wood. (Photo provided by Imagine Children's Museum)
Imagine Children’s Museum in Everett to welcome new CEO

Nancy Johnson, who has led Imagine Children’s Museum in Everett for 25 years, will retire in June.

Kelli Littlejohn, who was 11 when her older sister Melissa Lee was murdered, speaks to a group of investigators and deputies to thank them for bringing closure to her family after over 30 years on Thursday, March 28, 2024, at Snohomish County Superior Court in Everett, Washington. (Ryan Berry / The Herald)
‘She can rest in peace’: Jury convicts Bothell man in 1993 killing

Even after police arrested Alan Dean in 2020, it was unclear if he would stand trial. He was convicted Thursday in the murder of Melissa Lee, 15.

Ariel Garcia, 4, was last seen Wednesday morning in an apartment in the 4800 block of Vesper Dr. (Photo provided by Everett Police)
Search underway to find missing Everett child, 4

Ariel Garcia was last seen Wednesday morning at an apartment in the 4800 block of Vesper Drive.

The rezoned property, seen here from the Hillside Vista luxury development, is surrounded on two sides by modern neighborhoods Monday, March 25, 2024, in Lake Stevens, Washington. (Ryan Berry / The Herald)
Despite petition, Lake Stevens OKs rezone for new 96-home development

The change faced resistance from some residents, who worried about the effects of more density in the neighborhood.

Support local journalism

If you value local news, make a gift now to support the trusted journalism you get in The Daily Herald. Donations processed in this system are not tax deductible.