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Lacey updates water‑shortage plan, reaffirms odd/even watering schedule and exemptions
Summary
Lacey water staff presented an updated Water Shortage Response Plan describing four trigger stages (advisory odd/even watering, internal measures, mandatory restrictions and emergency no‑outdoor‑use); staff said vegetable gardens and athletic fields have exemptions and the city will follow up on how city properties are managed.
Lacey water staff on June 2 outlined an updated Water Shortage Response Plan that uses a four‑stage trigger to scale conservation measures based on a P3 production metric used by utility engineers.
Charlene McKendry, the city’s water resources specialist, told the council that the plan’s stages range from an advisory odd/even watering schedule (used annually since 2006) to an emergency stage that prohibits all outdoor water use except for essential drinking needs. “Stage three is mandatory; stage four is an emergency where we need that water for drinking,” McKendry said, describing how triggers are calculated and how the city coordinates with fire and school districts when restrictions tighten.
McKendry said the odd/even schedule runs June 1 through Sept. 30 and is meant to reduce peak demand during summer months when average daily use can rise from roughly 6 million gallons per day to 13–15 million gallons per day. Exceptions include potted plants, greenhouses, athletic fields (specialized turf), and a six‑week exemption for newly seeded or sodded lawns. McKendry also said staff do not typically publish a specific odd/even schedule for city‑owned properties; instead, city irrigation is managed as needed with conservation measures.
Council members asked whether city parks and commercial irrigation follow the odd/even schedule and how likely the city is to escalate to stages 2–4 during an anticipated El Niño summer. McKendry said Lacey’s water supply relies on multiple deep wells and three aquifers, so statewide drought declarations affect other communities more than Lacey, but staff will follow up with more details on management of city properties and outreach to large commercial irrigators.
McKendry also announced the 2026 Consumer Confidence (water quality) Report is available online in six languages and in paper form at city facilities.
What happens next: Staff will provide follow‑up information on how city‑owned properties are scheduled and any additional conservation measures for large commercial irrigators; no emergency restrictions were imposed at the June 2 meeting.
