On August 22, 2023 Public Works Director Mark Rigos declared that the City of North Bend move to Stage 2 of its Water Conservation Ordinance (WCO). The WCO will remain in effect until further notice.
As climate change continues to impact King County and the Pacific Northwest region, the City encourages citizens to join in on conservation efforts, and the WCO is a great way to actively help make a difference. The WCO is now four years old. For some, this ordinance is an anticipated seasonal practice in our community, and for others, the WCO is new and as a participant, we understand new residents want to ensure they have all the information they need to join in water conservation efforts.
So, what do property owners do during Stage 2? The WCO provides a series of simple directives for water usage:
- You can irrigate landscaping three times per week rather than each day as provided in Stage 1. The volume of watering users choose for their irrigation is not affected by the WCO, though the City urges users to be cognizant of their water use at any time, as conservation results in better health of the Snoqualmie River.
- You can water between 6 p.m. and 10 a.m. when less evaporation occurs. This is a continuation of the WCO Stage 1 directive.
- Landscape and pasture irrigation – except drip irrigation – is limited to a maximum of three days per week based on the following odd-even schedule:
- Customers with odd street addresses can irrigate on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays.
- Customers with even street addresses can water on Wednesdays, Fridays and Sundays.
- No irrigation is allowed on Mondays.
Public and private streetscape landscaping (medians and frontage) will be watered on the same odd/even schedule.
- While hand and manual watering follow the same odd/even house number schedule, it may be done at any time during the day.
- There will be no washing of streets, parking lots, driveways, sidewalks, buildings or other hardscape surfaces, except as necessary for health, sanitation or fire protection purposes.
- Water will only be served upon request at restaurants.
- No water from the city water system will be used for construction purposes without prior City approval.
As a reminder, if you install or already have a drip irrigation system and that is your sole source of watering, you are exempt from the WCO.
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Efficient use of water remains a key component to the overall management of water. The City appreciates your efforts to help conserve this limited natural resource.
