Seattle has no plans to change water rates unless there in a ‘gigantic drop’ is usage
May 15, 2015, 10:11 AM | Updated: Jul 28, 2015, 12:58 pm
Seattle has more water in its reservoirs than an average year, but other areas of the state are already feeling the effects of a low snowpack. Lake Tapps in Pierce County, for example, may remain closed through the summer. (Department of Ecology)
(Department of Ecology)
Seattle has more water in its reservoirs than an average year, and residents won’t have to worry about higher rates unless there is a “gigantic drop” in water usage.
Governor Jay Inslee declared a statewide drought for Washington on Friday due to the low snowpack and irrigation districts being forced to cut off water to farmers.
“We’re really starting to feel the pain from this snowpack drought,” Inslee said. “Impacts are already severe in several areas of the state. Difficult decisions are being made about what crops get priority water and how best to save fish.”
However, large municipal water suppliers, such as Seattle and Tacoma, have adequate reservoir storage to meet customers’ needs, according to the Governor’s Office. Seattle is in a “normal water year,” Senior Water Quality Engineer Alex Chen, KING 5 reports.
Seattle Public Utilities is reporting higher than average water levels, despite the low snowpack. That is because of advancements made in rainwater storage.
The majority of water bills in Seattle are a fixed cost that the city has to pay no matter what. If the amount of water being used drops, and thus reduces the money flowing into SPU, it could force officials to increase the cost of water in the future.
However, there are no plans to increase rates this year, according to SPU.
“There are no plans at this time to raise drinking water rates in the event conservation efforts, prompted by a statewide drought, cause a decline in utility revenues,” a statement from SPU reads.
Earlier this year, Seattle City Council adopted a two-year plan that holds water rate increases to 1.7 percent for 2016 and 2.7 percent for 2017. SPU Director Ray Hoffman said that unless there is a gigantic drop in water usage, that rate plan will not change.
But just because Seattle is reportedly in good shape doesn’t mean the rest of the state is. The Washington Department of Agriculture is projecting a $1.2 billion crop loss this year as a result of the drought.
Related: Popular Pierce County lake may remain closed through the summer
To protect crops in the state’s most productive agricultural region — the Yakima Basin — irrigation districts are turning off water for weeks at a time to try to extend water supplies longer into the summer, the Governor’s Office reports. In the Walla Walla region, water is being shifted from creek to creek to keep water flowing for steelhead, Chinook and bull trout. Fish are even being hauled farther upstream to cooler water.
The Department of Natural Resources expects more early-season and higher-elevation wildfires.
