Bend Bulletin - As heatwave continues, Bend shines spotlight on its water curtailment plan
As heatwave continues, Bend shines spotlight on its water curtailment plan
As Bend endures a week-long heat wave that is expected to continue through the weekend the City of Bend has taken the opportunity to tout its water curtailment plan.
The three-stage plan can be enacted during supply shortages due to prolonged drought or system failure from unexpected events, including natural disasters , according to a release from the city.
The purpose of the notice is for public education only. The city is currently not in any stage of its water curtailment plan.
The three stages — potential, serious and severe — can be initiated in progressive steps or set at the highest level of severity on short notice.
The public information campaign comes as Bend endures a week of record-breaking temperatures. Local hardware stores reported earlier this week that they were running short on hoses and other gardening supplies as area residents increase their water use to keep lawns moist.
The heat and lack of rain prompted drought monitors to put roughly half of Deschutes County back in moderate drought.
System requirements
Water managers in Bend must keep 10 pounds per square inch of water pressure throughout the city’s distribution system, plus minimum levels of water storage in its reservoirs for fire protection. Reductions of water use may be needed to maintain minimum values, the city said.
Mike Buettner, Bend’s utility department director, said utilizing the water curtailment plan is an “unlikely event” but officials said public awareness of the system is important in case it is ever used.
Stage one includes a voluntary request for customers to reduce or halt landscape irrigation and other nonessential water uses. Stages two and three have enforceable restrictions on nonessential water use such as landscape irrigation, washing driveways and filling swimming pools.
The current curtailment plan, in use since 2021, is undergoing a public awareness campaign, with messaging from the city and a new website.
“We thought it was timely due to the heat wave and the fire activity in the region,” said Anne Aurand a spokesperson for the city of Bend.
“The water team and I thought it would be a good idea to have the community aware of the curtailment plan’s existence and what potential triggers could occur that could potentially require us to ask our water customers to adjust their outdoor water use,” Aurand added.
Under a previous curtailment plan the city last issued a curtailment alert in 2020. In that instance, residents were advised about responsible water use and no mandatory measures were called for.
Stages of cutting back
The three stages of curtailment in the current plan include:
• Stage one (voluntary compliance): The city will direct specific customer groups, geographic areas or pressure zones to reduce water use. Customers reduce or halt landscape irrigation and should not fill swimming pools or ponds. Operating water features and washing sidewalks, driveways and patios is also discouraged.
Triggers in this stage include minor damage to the distribution system, mechanical or electrical failure at source supplies, extensive periods of high water demand, and disruption in the supply chain for chlorine or other chemicals required for water treatment.
• Stage 2: City activates a program to stop all nonessential water use. The city may prohibit nonessential water use across specific customer groups, geographic areas or pressure zones. Irrigating landscapes, filling swimming pools or ponds, operating water features and washing sidewalks, driveways and patios is not permitted.
This stage allows enforcement of mandatory water use restrictions through Bend’s code enforcement division.
Triggers in this stage include significant damage to water source supplies and/or distribution systems, a credible threat against key utility infrastructure, or threat of fire to the Bend municipal watershed utility infrastructure.
• Stage 3: The city may prohibit all water uses except those necessary for human consumption and sanitation needs. Outdoor water use (as described in stage 2) is prohibited. At this stage the city may issue Class B violation which come with a maximum civil penalty of $400 per day.
Triggers in this stage include extensive damage to the water supply or distribution infrastructure, contamination of water sources or a fire in the Bend Municipal Watershed. Peak demand in summer can exacerbate emergency situations.
