The City and Borough of Wrangell has issued a conservation advisory to water utility users, as increased wintertime demand outpaces replenishment of the town’s reservoirs.
A water watch was declared last Friday, the first of three stages in the emergency response plan the CBW Assembly had adopted last April. During a critical water shortage in the summer of 2016 the city had lacked a clear strategy for responding to such crises across departments.
During a Stage I watch alert such as this, Wrangellites are encouraged to reduce their water use by 10 or 20 percent. Depending on the threat stage, further reductions and bans on certain types of uses are enforced to preserve the water supply.
Last year the Assembly established a three-tiered emergency response plan with a fine schedule for infractions. Demand for water is high during the summer, with increased usage driven by Wrangell’s two seafood processors. During 2016 several factors impacted water treatment production at the plant, making it unable to keep up with citywide demand.
There was not a repeat performance in 2017, in part due to a cautious approach by the city going into the summer. The city did enact its first-stage level of conservation through July and August, but a shortened fishing season and extra staffing at the water plant made demand easier to meet. The season wrapped up without incident.
Though the processors are dormant at this time of year, during the winter Wrangell sees another spike in water usage depending on the weather. Without metering on most users’ connections it can be difficult to determine with certainty where the extra use is going, but Public Works’ assumption is that low temperatures induce people to keep their taps open and running continuously so that water lines do not freeze.
The issue this time around is not with the water plant keeping up with demand, but rather that of the two reservoirs it draws from. Wrangell has not received much rainfall over the course of the past month, with its precipitation largely in the form of snow. Though it will provide runoff when it melts this spring, at the moment it has not provided much hydrological benefit to the raw water supply, meaning the reservoirs are getting tapped dry. Based on the long-range weather forecast the city expects a continuing deterioration of water storage in Wrangell’s two basins.
Climate conditions will continue to be monitored, and water restrictions adjusted as necessary. The Stage I watch status will remain in effect until further notice, unless replaced by Stage II warning restrictions.
Residents are encouraged to be mindful of water use. Find and fix leaking faucets, toilets and water lines, avoid washing vehicles and other nonessential uses, and properly plug or winterize outdoor taps when not in use.
For more information or to report a problem, call Public Works at 874-3904.
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