With a drier-than-average winter and minimal spring precipitation, the City of North Bend is once again activating its annual Water Conservation Ordinance (WCO), beginning Friday, August 15.
The ordinance, introduced in 2020, is part of the city’s broader strategy to protect the Snoqualmie River and promote sustainable water usage during the dry season.
This year’s early snowmelt and below-average snowpack in the Snoqualmie River Watershed have prompted city officials to prepare for potentially earlier progression into stricter conservation measures.
Stage 2 of the WCO, which typically arrives in early fall, may begin sooner than usual, possibly by late August or early September.
The WCO applies to all property owners within North Bend and to customers of the city’s water system, even those outside city limits. According to city staff, the ordinance is designed as a community-wide education tool that encourages voluntary compliance through awareness rather than enforcement.
What Stage 1 Means for Residents:
Under Stage 1, the following guidelines apply:
- Irrigation (lawns, gardens, ornamental landscaping): Permitted daily between 6 p.m. and 10 a.m. to minimize evaporation and reduce water waste.
- Hand/manual watering: Allowed at any time throughout the day.
- Drip irrigation systems: Exempt from the ordinance if they are the sole source of watering.
- Recreational water use: Short-term play, such as sprinklers for kids, is allowed.
- Wasteful use: Activities such as overwatering, which causes runoff, the use of free-flowing hoses, draining and refilling pools or ponds without a valid reason, and washing hard surfaces like driveways are discouraged.
Although the ordinance includes penalties for ongoing noncompliance, the city emphasizes that enforcement is not the focus. Fines: up to $50 per day for repeated violations and up to $200 per day for continued disregard are considered a last resort after initial warnings.
“The intent of the WCO is conservation education and awareness,” the city noted in its announcement. Police officers are not watching for midday watering. The goal is voluntary compliance.”
To learn more about the WCO, including potential future stages and additional FAQs, visit www.northbendwa.gov/166/Water-Conservation.
