On Friday the 15th of May, 2015, Washington’s Governor, Jay Inslee declared a statewide drought emergency. Concerned with the lack of snowpack (sitting at a mere 16% capacity) and a dry, early fire season, Gov. Inslee said, “We’re seeing things happen at this time of year we just haven’t seen before.”
He then went on to highlight that unlike California, the problem with drought in the northwest is the large impact it has is upon wildlife and agriculture with urban centers being well-prepared.
The NY Times reports,
“Mr. Inslee said the state’s urban water systems, beyond having good luck in collecting rainwater even as snow became scarce this winter, have also invested well in water storage and collection, which he said bodes well for the state in general, because long-range projections of the climate in the Northwest suggest that warmer temperatures could make this year’s precipitation pattern more the norm than the exception.”
So while it doesn’t look like Washington will run out of water anytime soon, it never hurts to be prepared, and that is exactly what this state is, as a credit to its water planning team.
Inframanage.com notes that longer-term changes in weather patterns, snowfall and rainfall are part of the mix of future demand management analysis in infrastructure management planning, particularly for water utilities.
Where long term drought patterns are expected to persist, a range of planning and measures will need to be considered.
These will include demand management analysis, water loss analysis, public education around long term water conservation, the examination of the need for additional storage, and if necessary looking at alternative water sources and associated water treatment processes.
Good long term planning around these issues will assist water authorities to develop realistic risk scenarios, and expenditure requirements, which can then be communicated to communities.
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