White Salmon is starting to get tough with residential water users who appear to be using more than their fair share of the city's limited water supply.
Last week, warning letters went out to water customers whose meter readings showed they used more water than anyone else on the system.
With the amount of water produced by its wells declining, the city has instituted mandatory conservation measures that include no watering of lawns, no washing cars (except in commercial facilities), and no hosing off sidewalks and driveways.
The city has been tracking residential water usage to ensure there will be enough to go around.
"We figured about 500 gallons a day was reasonable [for a 3/4-inch meter], and that works out to about 15,000 gallons a month. If people are using over 20,000 gallons a month, we sorted them by the highest users," explained Mike Wellman, director of the city's Public Works Department.
According to Wellman, letters went out to about 50 water customers, including some outside the city limits.
"Some people were surprised; some found out they had leaks they didn't know about," he said.
City officials said most of the customers getting the letters were cooperative -- but not all.
"Some people say, `I don't care,'" Wellman said.
Wellman pointed out that that approach would not be tolerated for long.
"If it continues, the mayor has the authority to shut the water off. We haven't threatened that, but if someone was just saying `I'll use as much water as I want,' they might not be allowed to do that," he said.
The first letters went out in early August.
"We waited until we had a good full month of meter readings," said Wellman.
The notices, signed by Mayor David Poucher, read as follows:
"This letter is to inform you that you are in violation of Ordinance No. 2006-07-780 regarding water conservation," reads an excerpt. "This letter is your first warning ... The city's conservation plan allows each customer to use 500 gallons of water per day per 3/4-inch meter. This allows you to keep shrubs and trees alive but will not keep lawns green. Your help in conserving water during this time is appreciated."
The message also explains that those in violation will receive two warnings: "After two warnings, any person violating any provision of this chapter shall be deemed to have committed an infraction ... for violations outside the city limits, the violator's water service may be terminated in the event of a violation after the second warning. The water shall thereafter be turned back on only after payment of the applicable fines specified above and payment of any applicable hookup fees and other charges."
White Salmon City Council member Richard Marx, who chairs the city's water committee, pointed out that the letter had not been reviewed or approved by the council.
"I wish something like this had gone through the water committee," Marx said.
Marx added that the message in the letter raised questions about how much water a household could use.
"It doesn't make sense to me," Marx said. "I use only about 3,000 gallons a month. That means I'm 12,000 gallons shy of what I can use based on what the city considers conservation. That's great news for me. I can go back and water my lawn. Excuse me, but if I'd known that I never would have stopped watering my lawn if I'm allowed that much water. It seems like they owe me."
Wellman said those receiving the warning letters will not be allowed another month before the meter is read again.
"We monitor it. If you get on the list, it will be just a few days until we read the meter again," said Wellman. "Within a week at the most, we're re-reading the meters."
Wellman pointed out that if excessive water use continues, fines will be forthcoming.
"Some thought the letter was threatening. It's not intended to be," Wellman said. "But this is serious, and if you keep it up there are going to be fines."
Fines start at $200 and go as high as $400.
"We don't want to issue fines. We just want people to be responsive," Wellman explained. "We're trying to be fair to everybody. If we ask customers to conserve, there has to be some penalty for those who don't conserve."
Wellman said the conservation measures were allowing the city's water level to hold steady -- but just barely.
"Things have stabilized somewhat. We're using water as it comes in. We don't like being at the edge of being able to keep the reservoirs full, but they are full. If there was any more demand, we couldn't do it," he said.
The city is continuing with its efforts to gain the needed permits for a new filtering plant on Buck Creek. City officials are hopeful that plant -- which will use sand to filter potentially harmful organism out of the water -- will be in operation in early 2010.
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