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The summer season is a good time to reflect on the importance of and need for outdoor water conservation in the NWPA region. Outdoor water use, particularly in the summer months, can account for up to 30 percent of your household’s total water use. This presents a significant opportunity to reduce outdoor water use and protect the region’s water supplies. Outdoor watering can lead to higher water and energy costs, deplete vital water sources, and contribute to pollution by carrying lawn and landscape chemicals into nearby water bodies. Additionally, excessive outdoor water use can stress water utilities, especially during the summer when demand peaks. To meet increased demand, utilities often expand their infrastructure capacity, which can be costly. The NWPA, in collaboration with various partners, has developed several resources to help residents reduce outdoor water use. These include a regional lawn watering ordinance, an outdoor water conservation manual, and educational brochures on water-efficient landscape practices like establishing a new lawn from seed or sod. These materials provide practical tips and tools to reduce water use while maintaining attractive landscapes. Reducing the amount of water used for outdoor watering can also lower peak demand, potentially delaying or eliminating the need for costly expansions. This, in turn, helps avoid passing these costs on to ratepayers.  One of the NWPA resources worth highlighting is the regional lawn watering ordinance, which can help communities take a comprehensive approach to outdoor water conservation. The model ordinance limits outdoor watering to certain days and hours, prohibits establishing new seed and sod during summer months, prohibits the watering of sidewalks to reduce water waste, offers watering exemptions when water-efficient practices or technologies like drip irrigation or WaterSense devices are used, and empowers mayors or managers to issue an emergency proclamation and further regulate or prohibit water use in the event of diminished water supply caused by a prolonged dry period or drought, increased water demand, equipment failure, or water quality concerns. The ordinance also applies these regulations year-round to maximize conservation benefits. Although many NWPA communities have adopted parts of the ordinance in some capacity, such as setting hours and day limitations for outdoor watering, there is a need for more communities to fully adopt the model ordinance. NWPA members are encouraged to revisit the model ordinance this summer and consider its full adoption. Embracing outdoor water conservation practices like those outlined in the ordinance will help NWPA communities collectively ensure the long-term sustainability of the region’s shared water supplies. Comments are closed.
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