Due to seasonal low water flow conditions in the Skagit River, the City of Anacortes and Skagit Public Utility District water customers are being asked to reduce their water usage by 10 percent voluntarily.
The Washington State Department of Ecology has established minimum instream flows for the Skagit River. These minimum flow levels fluctuate throughout the year and are designed to primarily protect fish habitat.
Although every year is different, there are generally two times a year when we anticipate the Skagit River falling below instream flow levels—once in late winter/early spring and again in late summer/fall.
When the river falls below these prescribed levels, Skagit PUD and the City of Anacortes are required to provide public notification in accordance with a long-term water rights agreement signed in 1996.
WHAT CAN PEOPLE DO TO HELP?
We are taking this opportunity to remind our customers that it is always prudent to conserve our resources, whether it is water or any other resource. Everyone can do their part in conserving this important resource by voluntarily reducing their water consumption. We are asking every customer to voluntarily save 15-20 gallons of water per day.
Here are some simple water-saving ideas you can use at home:
Shorter showers—five minutes or less.
Turn water off when brushing teeth.
Let lawns go dormant in the summer.
Water plants deeply and less often.
Flush the toilet less.
Fix leaks around the house.
Questions should be directed to Fred Buckenmeyer, Public Works Director at (360) 588-8330 or email him at fredb@cityofancortes.org
Please follow our Facebook Page for alerts: https://www.facebook.com/AnacortesPublicWorks/