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Evanston ratifies agreement to supply water to wildfire responders; officials say supply will not strain city resources
Summary
City council ratified an incident-only commercial agreement that allowed the U.S. Forest Service and contractors to draw potable water from local hydrant meters and the city's bulk water station to support firefighting personnel and helicopter operations.
The Evanston City Council ratified an incident-only commercial agreement after staff said the city provided water over the preceding days to support wildfire-fighting operations in nearby mountains.
Public Works/operations staff described two sources used by responders: a hydrant meter on Wasatch and Allegiance used to wet down the airport helicopter pad, and the city's bulk water station in Sunset Industrial, from which contractors hauled potable water for crews' drinking, hygiene and sanitation. The city representative told the council responders have used about 206,220 gallons since the weekend and said the reservoir remained at roughly 80 percent. "That amount of water...is barely a little bigger than the rec center swimming pool," the staff member said.
Councilors asked whether the arrangement would risk local shortages; staff said metering and a $10,000 cap in the agreement guard against unexpected draw and that, at current use rates, the city was not near the cap. The agreement had already been signed by staff on advice of the city attorney because of the emergent need; council ratified that signature.
The measure passed on a voice vote. City staff said any use beyond the cap would require additional council approval and that all water outflows were being metered for accounting and billing.
