The Lake Whatcom watershed is the primary source of drinking water in Bellingham and is also used for wildlife habitat, recreation, and flood control. All of these demands compete for this limited resource. As a municipal water supplier, the City of Bellingham must also comply with state water use efficiency requirements that ensure safe, reliable drinking water supplies.
The City has established two primary goals for the next six years to direct efforts to conserve water:
To accomplish these goals, the City plans to take the following measures:
Related Documents:
Indoor Water Conservation
Water
conservation begins with you! Paying attention to your water use and
changing those water-wasting habits does make a difference. Daily
indoor water use in a typical single-family residence is 69 gallons of water
per person per day for cooking, washing, and flushing.
Outdoor Water Conservation
Outdoor
watering can be a burden on the potable water supply during the dry summer
months, as water use can sometimes double. It is estimated that
nearly half of this water is wasted to evaporation loss, run-off, and
over-watering.
Washington Native Plant Society Publications:
Repairing Leaky Fixtures
Leaky toilets and faucets are often the biggest water wasters in your home.
Fortunately, checking for leaks is quite simple, and repairs are usually
minimal. Follow the link below for some tips to help you detect a
leaky faucet or toilet, and easy instructions on how to repair the leak
yourself.
FREE Water Conservation Kits
The
City has purchased a variety of water conservation devices, such as low-flow
showerheads, faucet aerators, and toilet tank displacement bags.
Conservation kits are free of charge and are available on a limited basis to
residents of the City of Bellingham by calling the
Public Works Department or visiting
the Finance Department at City Hall.
Please contact the Operations Division of the Public Works Department if you would like more information about Water Conservation.
