Camas city officials are asking residents for help with water conservation this summer by launching a voluntary odd/even watering (irrigation) program for all residential, commercial and public customers.
The city kicked off the program Monday, and expects it to run through Sept. 30.
The program has three parts:
• Water customers with addresses ending in an odd number may water/irrigate outdoors on odd-numbered days.
• Water customers with addresses ending in an even number may water/irrigate outdoors on even-numbered days.
• Exceptions are granted for vegetable gardens, newly planted lawns and potted or hanging plants, which may be watered as needed to prevent damage and protect the resident’s investment.
Sam Adams, utilities manager for Camas, said there are a few reasons the city is asking for help with water conservation.
“We do this almost every summer,” he said. “Looking at the weather forecast, we’re going to have a stretch of really hot weather coming up. This will help us out.”
According to a release from the city, Camas water utility customers use nearly 8 million gallons of water per day from June through September, almost three times the amount of water used the rest of the year.
“An odd/even water management program is simple in its application, can save millions of gallons of water and is essential to maintain safe levels of water in the city’s reservoir tanks,” Public Works Director Steve Wall said in the release.
The city of Battle Ground implemented a similar program earlier this summer.
Adams offered up a few conservation ideas for residents, which he said would help both the city and the resident’s water bill. He said people should take their cars to a car wash instead of wash them at home, and residents with sprinklers should make sure their sprinklers are adjusted to hit the lawn and plants, instead of the street or sidewalk.
The city has a site with other tips for water conversation and more information about Camas’ water, which can be found at www.ci.camas.wa.us/pwwater.
