Resident urges Redmond to close nine water-management gaps tied to Redmond 2050

David Morton of Redmond addressed the commission during public comment on May 13, saying a review of the city’s water plans identified nine major gaps across potable water, wastewater, stormwater, groundwater and surface water that threaten the city’s ability to meet Redmond 2050 sustainability goals.

Morton said five of the gaps are critical, including the absence of a water reuse or recycled-water program for nonpotable uses, limited graywater reuse policies for denser development, a stormwater and surface-water plan that has not yet been adopted or funded for public review, and an outdated 2016 water-shortage response plan that lacks independent local triggers or demand-reduction targets.

“Closing these nine gaps, particularly through an integrated ‘one water’ governance framework, is how you make those goals real,” Morton said, adding that Redmond’s critical aquifer recharge area protections and recent wastewater-plan updates are strengths but insufficient without coordinated governance.

Morton also said the city’s reliance on King County for wastewater treatment constrains reuse opportunities and that the city lacks a formal water-conservation plan with binding demand-reduction targets. He asked commissioners to prioritize integrated water planning that aligns Redmond 2050 goals with operational plans.

Commissioners acknowledged Morton’s request and later flagged water as an item they want on the agenda for their joint meeting with the city council on May 26, where regional supply issues and Senate Bill 6026 implications will be discussed.