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Council reviews secondary irrigation master plan aimed at easing culinary water demand
Summary
City staff and consultants presented a phased master plan for pressurized secondary (irrigation) water that inventories local water rights, maps 14 pressure zones, and proposes initial projects to wet existing dry-irrigation lines. Council agreed to consider adoption at the Jan. 22 meeting after further coordination with regional water partners.
Washington City staff and outside consultants presented a multi‑phase secondary irrigation master plan to the City Council on Jan. 8, 2025, outlining options to shift outdoor irrigation off culinary (drinking) water and onto pressurized secondary supplies.
The plan, presented by Lester Dalton, assistant public works director, and Delos Hammond, principal engineer with Alliance Consulting, inventories the city’s “paper” water rights and measured “wet” water, maps 14 pressure zones keyed to topography, and models three buildout scenarios: 1) energizing existing dry irrigation lines already installed in subdivisions (about 27% of the city), 2) adding irrigation for developable land, and 3) adding service to existing homes now on culinary water. The consultants said the city already has significant dry infrastructure that could be tapped to reduce culinary demand.
Why it matters: Council members and staff stressed that reducing outdoor use of culinary water is a priority for the city and region. Consultants told the council their analysis shows outdoor irrigation accounts for roughly two‑thirds of average household water…
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