Council Seeks Public Feedback on Water Conservation Master Plan

Comments due by June 1

Kara Odegard, Sustainability Policy Analyst, 625.6702

Wednesday, May 27, 2020 at 3:25 p.m.

The Spokane City Council is seeking input from citizens on the draft 2020 Water Conservation Master Plan that will be considered for adoption at the Council’s June 1 meeting. The plan was developed at the request of Council, which is concerned with protecting the Spokane Valley-Rathdrum Prairie Aquifer and the Spokane River.

The conservation plan details strategies that we can use to reduce “demand” for water by customers. The 2020 Water Conservation Master Plan is online, as is additional information. Importantly, the plan is designed to:

  • Accommodate growth without additional pumping of water from the aquifer. Basically, the goal is to support population and economic growth through reduction in water use by existing customers. Using those water savings means our community can limit construction of expensive new water infrastructure to support growth.
  • Reduce the peak use of water in the summer time used for outdoor irrigation. Water use more than triples in summer months. Lowering that peak demand for water builds a safer, more reliable, and more cost-effective water system. It also has the potential to lessen the impact on river flows during dry months.

Send written comments on both the current draft plan and any ideas for future versions of conservation plans to sas@spokanecity.org or by mail to City Council, 808 W Spokane Falls Blvd., Spokane, WA 99201. Or call the City Council office by phone at 509.625.6255.

City Council is also forming a Water Resource Collaboration Group to provide recommendations for future water conservation policy and invites anyone who lives, works, or goes to school in Spokane to apply for membership. If you are interested, fill out the application and submit it by Sunday, June 21.