A summer of record-setting hot, dry weather and low snowpack levels has the region on voluntary restrictions for water usage. The city of Kirkland is also taking steps of its own to curb such water consumption.

Like many cities on the Eastside, Kirkland gets its water supply from Cascade Water Alliance (CWA), which in turn purchases water from the Seattle water supply derived from the Tolt River Watershed. In late July, Seattle and CWA, along with the cities of Everett and Tacoma, declared the first stage of a water shortage contingency plans. In mid-August, they then moved to the second stage, voluntary reductions on water consumption.

So far, the voluntary cut backs have resulted in a 10 percent drop in water usage, according to CWA, which was the desired goal set by the various cities.

“People have been great about saving water,” CWA Intergovernmental and Communications Director Elaine Kraft said.

At the same time, Public Works Kathy Brown said they have looked into ways for the city to reduce its water consumption. One of the ways it is doing this is working with King County to fill the city’s water trucks and sweepers with reclaimed water from the county’s Brightwater Treatment Plant. The water, which is disinfected and tested before being sent to recycled water pipelines to the filling station in Redmond, is used for non-drinking purposes.

“With this region being affected by such dry conditions, the city looked for opportunities that would help us reduce our water usage,” Deputy Mayor and CWA Board Member Penny Sweet said in a press release statement. “Our partnership with King County is a unique way to save water and costs while maintaining important city services.”

Other methods include turning off the irrigation systems at the fire stations and curtailing landscaping watering, while checking the irrigation systems in other areas to ensure there are no water leaks. They have also reduced their watermaim flushing program, ceased washing city vehicles unless necessary, and put a hold on planting vegetation at capital improvement projects.

Meanwhile, Brown said Kirkland residents can continue to take steps to reduce water consumption by not watering their lawns or plants as often, and to do it in the early morning and later in the evening or at night. Residents can also clean their driveways with a broom instead of a hose, wait until the dish washer is full before running a load and opt for car washes that use recycled water.

Yet, if the water shortage continues to be a problem CWA could enter into a mandatory reduction phase in which water use would be restricted.

Kraft said that if Seattle decided to enter into a mandatory phase they would also do so, as Seattle is where they receive their water supply. The cities are able to enact a mandatory phase following two weeks of voluntary curtailment.

The CWA set water restrictions in 1987 and 1992, with voluntary curtailments in 2001 and 2002. In 2005, they went into advisory stage.

The difference between 1992 and now, Kraft said, is they have the improved technology to anticipate potential shortages and as a result stored extra water in the reservoirs.”

“The system’s prepared differently and more in advanced,” she said.

For more information about CWA, visit www.cascadewater.org.

For more information on Seattle’s Public Utilities, visit www.seattle.gov/util.

Additional information on the city’s use of recycled water can be found at kingcounty.gov/recycledwater and kirklandwa.gov/savewater.