PRESS RELEASE - City Issues Mandatory Water Conservation Notice

Leak on main water transmission line being assessed and repaired, City and Mill working together to repair as soon as possible.

A mandatory water conservation notice has been issued by the City of Port Townsend to all City water customers while a leak in the main water transmission line is being assessed and repaired. The conservation notice includes several steps that customers could take, including reducing outdoor water use for irrigation, taking shorter showers, operating dish and clothes washers only when full, and fixing leaky faucets and/or toilets. This conservation measure will remain in effect until further notice. Customers will be notified when the repairs are complete and the mandatory conservation measures are canceled.

The City and Port Townsend Paper Corporation (Mill) are working under the terms of the Water Use Agreement to repair the leak. Due to the transmission line being shut down, water supply is being provided by the City Lake Reservoir. The City Lake Reservoir can provide water for a minimum of 5 days under normal operations. The City and Mill are both implementing water conservation measures to extend the amount of time the City Lake Reservoir can provide water. During the summer, the City uses approximately 2 million gallons per day; the Mill uses approximately 11 million gallons per day.

The leak, in a steep and difficult to access location, is the result of a cracked fitting which was discharging approximately 400 gallons of water per minute. This leak eroded soil near the transmission line on the hillside near Snow Creek. Property owners along the affected area of the pipeline are being notified and City staff are coordinating as appropriate with regional and state agencies.

Initial assessment in the field by City staff is that quick and successful pipeline repair is likely in the coming few days. Once the repair is complete and the water transmission line again functional, additional assessment for soil and pipeline stability near the leak will be addressed as a follow up for long term stability of the system. Further information will be provided when available. Many thanks to City and Mill water system maintenance staff for their response efforts.