The Point Roberts Water District has adopted new state-mandated water efficiency goals, reaffirming its commitment to conservation and acknowledging the community’s limited water supply.
At its October 14 meeting, district manager Wesley Hubbard said Washington requires utilities to update efficiency goals every six years.
The new targets aim to keep system leakage below 10 percent and average household use under 85 gallons per day per Equivalent Residential Unit, or ERU, which represents the typical water use of one home.
The district’s previous goal, set in 2010, was to reduce household use from 111 gallons to 95 per day. That target has been exceeded, with current averages near 80 gallons.
During the pandemic, water use dropped sharply to around 60 gallons per day as part-time residents and visitors stayed away. Before COVID, usage averaged in the mid-90s. While consumption has since risen somewhat, it remains lower than before the pandemic due to lasting conservation habits and fewer cross-border visitors.
Hubbard said the district continues working to keep leakage under 10 percent, noting that aging meters and underground leaks have caused occasional increases. Replacement projects are underway to bring the system’s three-year average below that threshold.
Point Roberts’ water comes from the Greater Vancouver Water District under a fixed daily allocation. With about 2,500 of 2,953 permitted connections already in use, the system cannot serve every undeveloped lot.
The updated goals will be submitted to the Washington State Department of Health later this year.
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sqlexpert
Okay, install public showers...somewhere? Community center? Public beach, perhaps open just 2 or 3 days a week for a few hours, to limit cost? Japanese baths could be a good model.. A health/fitness center would be nice; at the old Breakers? It would need a sane business model....
Saturday, November 1 Report this