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 far into the future.
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:
Conserve water and you may save money on your water bill by installing a water meter. Effective January 1, 2009, the City's Voluntary Metering Program (VMP) went from a fee of $150 to FREE! As part of the City's on-going efforts to promote water conservation and to meet the State's deadline to have water meters installed on all single-family residential water customers by 2017, the VMP is now free of charge. To get an idea of what you might pay with a metered water rate, go to the Estimated Water Consumption Calculator. To request a water meter, fill out a Voluntary Water Metering Program Application (PDF) and deliver to either the Permit Center at City Hall, 210 Lottie Street or Public Works Operations, 2221 Pacific Street.
Related Documents:
Water
conservation begins with you! Paying attention to your water use and
changing those water-wasting habits does make a difference.
User Tips
The average American uses 101 gallons of water per day. Of that, 80% is used indoors to flush the toilet, do laundry, take a shower or use the sink.
Appliances, Fixtures, and Devices
Protect the environment and save water by using these identified
water-efficient products and fixtures for your home.
Repair Leaks
Leaky toilets and faucets are often the biggest water wasters in you 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.
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.
Rain Barrel Program
Collecting rainwater in rain barrels from your roof is a great way to
conseve water, save money on your water bill, and reduce stormwater runoff.
Rain barrels are also available for purchase from the city for $25. Email
waterconservation@cob.org
for more information or contact the
Public Works Department.
Water/Wise Gardening
Please contact the Operations Division of the Public Works Department if you would like more information about Water Conservation.
American
Rainwater Catchment System Association
A non-profit organization that seeks to promote rainwater catchment across the U.S. through education, networking, and resource exchange
American Water Works Association
The authoritative resource on safe water, providing knowledge, information
and advocacy to improve the quality and supply of water in North America and
beyond. AWWA advances public
health, safety and welfare by uniting the efforts of the full spectrum of
the water community.
