Voluntary water restrictions start in the City of The Dalles

The Dalles Municipal Watershed started 2026 with a record low snowpack followed by the recent Grasshopper Fire burning into the Dog River Basin.

The City of The Dalles water system relies on a combination of surface water and groundwater sources throughout the year.

Approximately 70–80% of the city's annual water supply comes from the Crow Creek Reservoir and South Fork Mill Creek surface water source. Approximately 20–30% comes from groundwater wells, primarily during periods of higher summer demand.

Water restrictions are voluntary at this time: Please do your part

All city water customers are asked to voluntarily reduce indoor and outdoor water use.

Outdoor Water Use Tips

The city is asking water users to reduce or stop landscape and yard watering. As temperatures cool this fall, you can help by taking these simple steps:

• Find, flag and fix yard sprinkler system leaks.
• Reduce watering in shrub beds and vegetable gardens. When watering is needed, use a sprinkler, soaker hose or drip irrigation to direct water to the roots. Please avoid watering with an open hose.
• Stop watering lawns and allow grass go dormant. Yellow grass is usually dormant — not dead — and will green up when fall rains return.

Parks and schools in The Dalles water service area have been asked to reduce landscape watering when possible. Sports fields will continue to be watered as needed to maintain safe playing conditions while ornamental lawns will be allowed to go dormant.

Indoor Water Use Tips

• Repair leaking faucets and toilets.
• Run dishwashers and washing machines only with full loads.
• Take shorter showers when practical.
• Turn off the faucet while brushing teeth.

The voluntary reductions do not apply to water used for commercial and industrial operations. Reducing seasonal landscape water use and careful indoor home water use is expected to provide the conservation needed.

The city is also reducing its own water use. Routine hydrant flushing has been suspended, and water used for street sweeping will be minimized.

Contractor water use will be restricted to projects located inside the City Limits.

The community will be notified if the situation changes. For more information and updates go to thedalles.gov/WaterRestrictions.

Who is affected

This advisory applies only to customers served by the City of The Dalles water system.

Chenowith Water People’s Utility District operates a separate water system. Its customers are not included in the City’s Stage 1 Water Restriction Advisory.

You can find your address on the City of The Dalles utility service area map.

Learn more

Visit thedalles.gov/WaterRestrictions for current updates, water-saving tips, and information about the City’s Water Restriction Advisory.

If you have questions, please contact the Public Works Department at (541) 296-5401. For media inquiries, contact Amie Ell, Public Information Officer at amell@thedalles.gov.