Statewide drought emergency prompts new water saving measures

Since 2007, the Department of Enterprise Services has cut annual water use in the buildings and on the grounds of the Capitol Campus by 34 percent – from about 44 million gallons in 2007 to an estimated 29 million gallons in 2014.

In response to this year's statewide drought emergency, Enterprise Services is putting measures in place to conserve another 6.5 million gallons on the campus – a further 22 percent reduction. Although the city of Olympia has adequate water supplies for its customers including Enterprise Services, the department is taking a state leadership role to conserve water and responding to the statewide water supply shortage by:

• Stopping irrigation of campus lawns and letting the grass go brown and dormant.
• Not turning on the Tivoli Fountain and shutting down the Du Pen fountain and a small decorative fountain behind the Governor's Mansion.
• Ensuring that previous water conservation strategies within all campus buildings –including the state Capitol building – remain in place and are working as planned.
• Irrigating well-established trees and shrub beds less frequently, deeply and before 10 a.m. or after sunset when the wind is calm.
• Inspecting, testing and repairing irrigation systems to address leaks and overspray.

The department will continue watering newly installed landscaping such as the plants on Sid Snyder Avenue, the Sunken Garden, and Law Enforcement and Korean War Memorials as well as the gardens used to grow vegetables for the Thurston County Food Bank, to ensure their survival and protect public investment.

Enterprise Services is working with people and organizations that have summer events scheduled on the campus so they are aware of the water conservation measures being taken. The department is working with organizers regarding any additional steps they may need to take to protect campus vegetation and, if necessary, help them find potential alternative locations.

"The drought conditions across the state are dire, among the worst Washington has ever experienced," said Enterprise Services Director Chris Liu. "Our state water supplies are finite. As the responsible steward of Washington's seat of government, Enterprise Services must take the helm and do all we can to conserve water."

Enterprise Services will continue to use about 1.1 million gallons of reclaimed water to irrigate Heritage and Marathon parks and the landscaped areas along Deschutes Parkway. The department is also looking at how to expand its use of reclaimed water on the campus and in the other parks it manages.

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