MERCER ISLAND, Wash. — The dire situation with Mercer Island's water supply has only intensified, as the city is asking residents to immediately conserve water to avoid a "severe water emergency."
In a Monday night release, the city issued a public safety alert that water use has spiked amid unseasonably hot temperatures across western Washington. This has caused reservoirs to be diminished more quickly than they can be refilled.
Currently, Mercer Island said it is only receiving 2,500 gallons per minute from a backup line, while use peaked at 7,000 gallons per minute Monday morning. The city said if use continues at these rates, reservoir levels will fall below the minimum amount needed for "firefighting abilities."
"We cut our water 50% today,” said Mercer Island resident Susan Samuelson. "Wherever I can cut it off, I am cutting it off completely, so it is not like we are negligent. We care so much, but we are frightened."
As of Tuesday afternoon, the city said levels were improving, but additional conservation was needed. Between midnight and 6 a.m., residents consumed 787,000 gallons of water, with use peaking at 5,200 gallons per minute.
"The amount of water that comes in needs to be more than the water that is going out, and right now, that number is flipped,” said Fire Marshal Jeromy Hicks with Eastside Fire and Rescue South Division.
Reservoirs being depleted faster than they can be refilled is a problem for firefighters.
"When they get down to that level, then they start to get concerned about okay, what are our fire flow capabilities, what are our pressure capabilities,” Hicks said.
The city shared a list of actions residents can take to help conserve water to avert mandatory water restrictions.
- Ensure automatic irrigation systems are turned off
- Talk with any landscaping providers about cutting water use
- Avoid doing laundry for the next two days
- Minimize shower water use
- Do not run sprinklers
- Water plants/yards as little as possible
- Let your lawn go dormant (brown)
- Do not wash vehicles
- Do not refill swimming pools or hot tubs
- Turn off water features, such as fountains
The high temperatures aren't going anywhere. Tuesday is expected to bring the hottest temperatures from this heat wave, with highs in the mid-to-upper 90s across the region. A Heat Advisory is in effect through Wednesday at 5 p.m.
Mercer Island put a spotlight on its water woes a few months ago.
"There was a main line break with Seattle public utilities supply line and that caused the water coming into the reservoir to be decreased because they are using a backup line system now that is not the full capacity of what the other line was,” Hicks explained.
Mercer Island City Manager Jessi Bon also declared a local emergency on May 1 due to a reduction in potable water. Fourth of July fireworks, which are typically allowed on the island, were banned this summer due to the diminished water levels.
"I am trying to be extremely careful,” said Samuelson. "We need to get a handle on it desperately before we are really, really sorry."