The Green Spot: Water

What are the primary water courses relied upon to meet the needs of Central Oregon residents?

The Deschutes River is the primary water source for Central Oregon water needs. However, the Bridge Creek watershed, Crooked River, Trout Creek, and Squaw Creek also are major contributors of water to Central Oregon residents. The City of Bend has two different water sources-- Bridge Creek, the main source of water for the city, and deep wells, which provide a water source during the summer.

*www.ci.bend.or.us
*www.waterwatch.org/Campaigns/Deschutes/deschutes2.htm

Where does Bend’s municipal water come from?

Currently the City has nine wells with a capacity of more than 13 million gallons per day. The City has 28.6 million gallons of existing ground water rights and 15.5 million pending. Surface water rights are approximately 13.5 million gallons per day from Bridge Creek and Tumalo Creek. The City of Bend meets almost all customer demand through ground water withdrawal and surface water diversion. The remaining demand is met through wholesale water purchase from the Roats Water System (former Juniper Service area) and the Arnold Irrigation District (nonpotable).

These sources are described below.*www.ci.bend.or.us

Where does the tap water in Bend come from?

The City of Bend is one of three drinking water providers in the city, providing about 75% of municipal water sources. The two other providers are the Avion Water Company and the Roats Water System. The disinfected water from the above-mentioned city reservoirs is piped from the reservoirs into the intercity piping system and into neighborhoods for use.

*www.ci.bend.or.us

How much water does the City of Bend use each year?

he city of Bend uses approximately 9200 acre feet per year, or about 0.015%. An acre foot is 325,000 gallons and is a common measurement. The City of Bend’s typical demand is approximately 4.99 million gallons per day during winter months and peaks at 26.0 million gallons per day during the hot summer months. Much of this summer use is on outdoor irrigation of lawns and gardens. The city of Bend used about 4,366,380,500 gallons (about 4.33 billion gallons) of water during the 2004 calendar year.*www.ci.bend.or.us *City of Bend Water District

How much water is diverted for agricultural uses from the Deschutes River per year?

The agricultural community diverts some 600,000 acre feet, or 195 billion gallons from the Deschutes per year for irrigation of crops. Irrigation remains by far the biggest water user in the Deschutes Basin-accounting for over 90 percent of water withdrawals. *www.ci.bend.or.us *City of Bend Water District

How much of the Deschutes River water is diverted into irrigation canals?

About 97% of the water in the upper Deschutes River is diverted into irrigation canals. *City of Bend Water District

Is any water from the canals wasted?

About 50% of the water in the irrigation canals leaks out to surrounding areas, not including a negligible amount lost from evaporation.

*City of Bend Water District

What are some of the problems affecting the Deschutes Watershed?

The greatest new threat is Central Oregon's explosive population growth. The population of Bend, the largest city in the area, grew by a staggering 154 percent in the 1990s alone. With this burgeoning growth has come an increasing demand for water. œ Water diversions in the Deschutes Basin have grown so large that entire sections of some rivers and streams run dry. Dams have further fragmented fish habitat and altered natural river cycles. Flows are often too low to meet the survival needs of fish and wildlife, and limit opportunities for boating and fishing. œ The basin's fragile water resources are also under pressure to provide water for several proposed new power plants. These plants could suck up more than 8 million gallons of Central Oregon groundwater each day in order to generate electricity that will likely end up in California.œ Too many entities have claims. Because the surface waters of the basin have already been promised to too many interests, more and more people are turning to groundwater for their needs. But in the Deschutes Basin, groundwater and surface water flows are hydraulically connected-meaning that when someone pumps groundwater, it eventually reduces surface flows. Thus groundwater pumping poses a serious threat to in-stream flows needed to support fish, wildlife and recreation-flows which already are not being satisfied most months of the year.

*www.waterwatch.org/Campaigns/Deschutes/deschutes2.htm
*www.ci.bend.or.us

How much water does the average resident of Bend use each year?

The average Bend resident uses about 100,000 gallons of water per year. *City of Bend Water District

How can I conserve water in my home?

Try to do at least one thing each day to save water. Don't worry if the savings are minimal. Every drop counts, and every person can make a difference. Make sure your children are aware of the need to conserve water.

The Toilet: Check for toilet leaks by adding food coloring to the tank. If the toilet is leaking, color will appear in the bowl within 30 minutes. Check the toilet for worn out, corroded, or bent parts. Consider purchasing LowFlow toilets that can reduce indoor water use by 20%. Install a toilet dam or displacement device such as a bag or bottle to cut down on the amount of water needed for each flushing. Be sure installation does not interfere with operating parts. Avoid unnecessary flushing. Dispose of tissues, insects, and other similar waste in the trash rather than the toilet. If the toilet flush handle frequently sticks in the flush position, letting water run constantly, replace or adjust it.
The Shower/Bath: Replace your showerhead with an ultra low-flow version, saving up to 2.5 gallons per minute. Take shorter showers. Try a "Navy" shower; get wet, turn off the water, soap and scrub, then turn the water on to rinse. In the shower, instead of increasing the hot or cold water flow to adjust the water temperature, try decreasing the flow to achieve a comfortable water temperature. Use the minimum amount of water needed for a bath by closing the drain first and filling the tub only 1/3 full. The initial burst of cold water can be warmed by adding hot water later. Don't let the water run while shaving, washing your face, or brushing your teeth.
The Kitchen: Minimize the use of kitchen sink disposals; they require a lot of water to operate properly. Start a compost pile as an alternate method of disposing of food waste. Store drinking water in the refrigerator rather than letting the tap run to get a cool glass of water. Do not use running water to thaw meat or other frozen foods. Defrost them overnight in the refrigerator, or by using the defrost setting on your microwave. Consider installing an instant water heater on your kitchen sink so you don't have to let the water run while it heats up. This will reduce heating costs for your household.
Washing Dishes: When washing dishes by hand, fill one sink or basin with soapy water. Quickly rinse under a slow stream of water from the faucet. Use the dirty water to run your sink disposal if necessary. Fully load automatic dishwashers; they use the same amount of water no matter how much is in them. Buy dishwashers with water and energy saving options.

What is the most efficient way to water my lawn?

As a general rule, lawns only need watering every 5 to 7 days in the summer. A hearty rain eliminates the need for watering for as long as two weeks.

Water lawns during the early morning hours when temperatures and wind speed are the lowest. This reduces losses from evaporation.
Don't water your street, driveway, or sidewalk. Position your sprinklers so that your water lands on the lawn and shrubs and not the paved areas.
Install sprinklers that are the most water-efficient for each use such as micro and drip irrigation and soaker hoses.
Regularly check sprinkler systems and timing devices to be sure they are operating properly.
Teach your family how to shut off automatic systems so they can turn them off when storms are approaching.
Do not leave sprinklers or hoses unattended. Your garden hose can pour out 600 gallons or more in only a few hours.
Use a kitchen timer to remind yourself to turn the water off.

What else can I do to save water on lawncare?

Raise your lawn mower blade to at least three inches. A lawn cut higher encourages grass roots to grow deeper, shades the root system, and holds soil moisture better than closely-clipped lawns.
Avoid overfertilizing your lawn. The application of fertilizers increases the need for water and is a source of water pollution. The best way to naturally fertilize is to leave grass clippings on the lawn after mowing.
Mulch to retain moisture in the soil. Mulching also helps to control weeds that compete with plants for water.
Repair dripping faucets by replacing washers. If your faucet is dripping at the rate of one drop per second, you can expect to waste 2,700 gallons per year.
Plant native and/or drought-tolerant grasses, ground covers, shrubs, and trees. Check with your local nursery for advice.
Group plants together based on similar water needs.
Outfit your hose with a shut-off nozzle which can be adjusted down to a fine spray so that water flows only as needed. When finished, turn it off at the faucet instead of at the nozzle to avoid leaks.
Minimize the grass areas in your yard because less grass means less water.
Buy a rain gauge to determine how much rain or irrigation your yard has received, or make your own gauge by setting out a can under the sprinkler, and measuring the amount of water collected.

How else can I minimize outdoor water use?

Avoid hosing down your driveway or sidewalk; use a broom instead and save hundreds of gallons of drinkable water.
Check all hoses, connectors, and spigots regularly. Replace or add washers if you find leaks.
Avoid the installation of ornamental water features unless the water is recycled.
If you have a pool, consider a new water-saving pool filter. A single backflushing with a traditional filter uses from 180 to 250 gallons of water.
Consider using a commercial car wash that recycles water. If you wash your own car, park it on the grass, use a bucket with soapy water, turn off the water while soaping, and use a hose with a pressure nozzle to decrease rinsing time.
Create an awareness of the need for water conservation among your children: avoid purchasing recreational water toys that require a constant stream of water.

*www.earth911.org For more information on how to save water, visit: http://www.ci.bend.or.us/publicworks/WaterWise%20Tips.pdf

How much water is used by sprinklers and other home gardening/landscaping in Bend?

Based on the fact that during the non-irrigation season, the city averages 5.1 Million Gallons per Day (MGD), and the number increases to 15.4 MGD in the irrigation season, the difference between these values, 10.3 MGD, represents the additional water usage on an average daily basis through the irrigation season.

* Water Management and Conservation Plan Final Report, December 2004, City of Bend Water District.

Are there irrigation restrictions in the City of Bend?

The irrigation season for lawns and gardens in the City extends from April 1st through September 30th of each year.

The following regulations apply to all City water customers whether metered or flat-rate during this period:

Irrigation hours are limited to 5:00 am to 10:00 am and 4:00 pm to 10:00 pm.
Irrigation days are limited to addresses that end with even numbers irrigating only on even numbered days and odd numbered addresses will irrigate only on odd numbered days.
No irrigating is allowed on the 31st of any month.

These regulations apply to all irrigation or outside water use including hose watering. Variances from these water regulations can be obtained by calling 388-5540. Under certain conditions additional restrictions may be imposed by the City Council. Enforcement action may be taken against violators of the irrigation regulations. *www.ci.bend.or.us

For more information on local watershed issues, including current water use policies and court decisions, visit:
www.waterwatch.org
www.ci.bend.or.us
www.deschutes.org/go/living-here

Where can well water be tested for nitrates, Coliform bacteria, and other contaminants?

North Creek Analytical (541) 383-9310, 20332 Empire Ave., Bend, Oregon 97701.
Coffey Labs Inc. 548-0972 1810 SE 1st Street, Redmond, Oregon 97756.

For more information concerning contaminants in drinking water, please contact your county's branch of the Oregon Department of Human Services Drinking Water Program:
Deschutes County, Jeff Freund (541) 388-6563.
Jefferson County, Susan Fuller (541) 475-4456.
Crook County, Russell Hanson/Bob Wilson (541) 447-8155.

For more information concerning drinking water, please visit the Deschutes County water program website at: http://www.deschutes.org/index.cfm?objectId=B7266FAE-BDBD-57C1-903D0A8FB42FD8D2. *Deschutes County Department of Human Services Drinking Water Program Director.

What is greywater and can I use it in Oregon?

Greywater (often times spelled graywater, grey water or gray water), is water collected from dish washers, non-kitchen sinks, washing machines and showers to be re-used to water surface area, non-edible plants. Greywater is of lesser quality than potable water (and should never be imbibed), but is cleaner than blackwater (that coming from toilets). While greywater can potentially help conserve water in arid areas like Central Oregon, setting up a greywater system in Oregon is not simple.

In Oregon, greywater is defined by statute as "sewage" and is therefore subject to many state regulations. Households must apply for individual permits from the Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) in order to collect the water. Permits vary from site to site, and cost thousands of dollars.

If you are interested in contacting the DEQ regarding permits or other questions, email the Water Reuse Coordinator or call 800-452-4011. If you are interested in learning more about the legislature surrounding greywater regulations, email the Oregon Legal Graywater Association. For more information on the benefits, potentials, and common misunderstandings regarding greywater, visit:

www.oasisdesign.net/greywater/index.htm
ag.arizona.edu/OALS/oals/dru/graywater.html