OLYMPIA - Following is the Department of Ecology's (Ecology) weekly report about the status of drought conditions in Washington, assistance being provided by state agencies, and what citizens can do to conserve and share water.
July, August and September are the driest months of the year in Washington state. They are also the time when people use the most water each year for irrigating crops, backyard gardens and lawns, recreational activities and other uses that take water out of streams.
The sprinkles that fell in parts of the state last week temporarily helped some areas a little bit. However, the recent rainfall wasn't sufficient enough to produce significant improvements to overall water supply conditions.
"The state is still clearly in the throes of the second-worst drought on record," said Doug McChesney, Ecology's drought-response coordinator. *State agencies are helping communities with low water supplies
The statewide drought is starting to take its toll on water supplies in several communities, and it's becoming increasingly clear that Eastern Washington isn't the only part of the state feeling the effects.
The state Department of Health (DOH) is working with several communities whose water supplies are running low. They include Goldendale in Klickitat County, Lebam in Pacific County, and the Mud Bay area of Thurston County.
DOH is helping the communities apply for emergency funding to help pay for drinking water. The funding may be used to improve existing systems, drill new wells, or negotiate with neighboring suppliers to provide water.
DOH also is talking with the Washington Corrections Center in Mason County about bringing emergency wells on-line to water supply to the prison. In addition, the Department of Ecology recently issued an emergency drought permit to Bremerton that allows the city to divert up to 407 acre-feet of additional water (nearly 133 million gallons) the rest of this year. Ecology issued the permit because Bremerton's water supply was very low - less than 70 percent of typical supplies.
Also, the city of Kent and the Sammamish Plateau Water and Sewer District (both in King County) have imposed mandatory conservation rules limiting water use. In Pierce County, Fruitland Mutual Water Company is receiving supplemental water supplies from Puyallup and Tacoma to keep up with demand from its clients.
Anyone with a water right may apply for emergency water during the drought. To qualify for an emergency water permit, water must be available. The community, business or individual requesting the water must have 75 percent or less water than their normal reserves, and the requested water must not take water away from other users.
"The law contains a fairness test that we must apply whether or not we're in a drought," said Ecology's Director Tom Fitzsimmons. "Within those boundaries, we are working hard to make sure people and fish get as much water as possible this year."
Since March 14, when Ecology declared a drought emergency, farmers and municipalities in Benton, Chelan, Douglas, Franklin, King, Kitsap, Kittitas, Klickitat, Okanogan, Stevens, Walla Walla and Yakima counties have applied for 57 temporary emergency water permits and 115 temporary emergency changes to existing water rights to help maintain their water supplies.
Ecology has approved 52 applications and denied four applications for emergency water permits since the drought emergency was declared. The department also has approved 98 applications and denied three applications to change existing water rights. Five permit applications to change rights during the drought have been withdrawn.
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