City of Bend details three-stage water restriction plan in case of serious emergency

BEND, Oregon (KTVZ) – The City of Bend said Friday it wants to inform the public that there is a three-stage water restriction plan that water customers may need to follow in the event of a water shortage.

But they also emphasized:

This is NOT a warning and the City is currently in NO phase of its water restriction plan.

If necessary, curtailment periods would reduce water demand during supply shortages that may occur as a result of prolonged droughts or system failures resulting from unforeseen events, including fires, lightning strikes, floods, landslides, earthquakes and pollution, mechanical or electrical equipment failures, or events beyond the control of the City (such as power outages and/or intentional malicious acts).

These three levels of restriction are of increasing severity and can be implemented gradually or at the highest level in the short term. These levels of restriction (1 – POTENTIAL, 2 – SEVERE AND 3 – SEVERE) are independent of and complementary to seasonal water conservation messages designed to raise awareness of seasonal water use in outdoor irrigation and water conservation in general.

In addition to providing potable water for human consumption and meeting the sanitation needs of the City of Bend’s water customers, the City must also maintain a water pressure of 20 pounds per square inch throughout the City’s distribution system and maintain minimum water levels in its reservoirs for fire protection purposes.

“The city could trigger a water restriction period based on a number of possible factors. We want our community to be aware of the plan in the unlikely event that we need to implement it,” said Mike Buettner, Utilities Department Director. “When the right combination of factors occur simultaneously, we need the community’s support to maintain public health and safety, and we appreciate our customers being part of the solution.”

“Level 1: Potential” is a voluntary request for customers to reduce or stop landscape irrigation and other non-essential water uses. “Level 2: Severe” and “Level 3: Severe” would be enforceable restrictions on non-essential water uses such as landscape irrigation, washing driveways, filling swimming pools, and more.

For more details and information on the water curtailment plan, visit Water Curtailment Stages | City of Bend (bendoregon.gov).