Conserving water still important.

Byline: GUEST VIEWPOINT By Kitty Piercy and Ron Farmer For The Register-Guard

In Eugene, we are blessed with an abundance of life's most precious natural resource: water. We couldn't survive without it. Unlike many other areas of the world, where rationing and fighting over water resources are commonplace, we have enough water to meet our needs - now and in the immediate future.

But that is true only if we use water wisely. If last winter's severe lack of rain and snow taught us anything, it is that our water supply is not infinite. We must keep our water clean and ensure that there's enough for future users. As our community grows, using water in smart ways makes sense, economically and environmentally.

Despite near-normal rainfall and additional mountain snow over the past several weeks, precipitation levels remain well below average. Just in excess of 12 inches of rain has fallen in Eugene this year, compared to an average of more than 25 inches. At one point in late February, the water flow in the McKenzie River was lower than it usually is in late August. The Willamette River was running at only 25 percent of average.

Although our rivers have recovered somewhat, last winter should be a warning for all of us. This is the sixth year in a row where below-average river flows in the Columbia River Basin have raised concerns about effects on such things as salmon, water quality, electricity generation, farming and wildfires. Will these low-water years become the new `normal'?

Fortunately, the city of Eugene and the Eugene Water & Electric Board are prepared to deal with low-water situations. EWEB has developed an emergency plan that calls for voluntary - or if needed, mandatory - curtailments should our water supply be so limited. EWEB also has launched a drinking water supply protection program to ensure that our source of water, the McKenzie River, remains unpolluted. The city has developed emergency plans for extremely dry conditions in nearby forested areas.

Fortunately, as well, the city of Eugene and EWEB have similar goals when it comes to water. EWEB has a proactive conservation program to help customers use water wisely and more efficiently. The city has an aggressive storm-water management program to encourage proper disposal of wastewater. These two efforts work hand-in-hand to promote ecologically sound and sustainable water consump- tion.

Taking steps to prevent overwatering of your lawn, purchasing water-efficient appliances, fixing leaky toilets and faucets, and planting `water-wise' landscapes are just a few of the ways people can reduce water use without changing their lifestyles. Likewise, doing things such as washing cars on lawns or gravel areas or sweeping driveways instead of hosing them down will reduce the polluted runoff that eventually finds its way into our waterways.

Through these efforts, city residents will take less water out of the McKenzie and put less - and cleaner - wastewater back into the Willamette. Water is a plentiful, but only if we use it wisely now and in the future.

There are significant economic reasons to conserve water, as well. Efficient use of water saves money on monthly water, sewer and storm-water bills. Conservation also helps to postpone expensive expansions of our water system, which normally are funded through rate increases.

Someday, we'll need to tap the unused water rights we currently have for the McKenzie River. Currently, EWEB's treatment facilities can draw about half the water we have rights to obtain. But we shouldn't assume that we will always have access to the remaining, unused water rights on the McKenzie. As the entire region grows, there will be pressure put on us to share our water resources.

In addition, state and federal water resource agencies are demanding that cities and utilities have sound and effective plans in place to curb water use. Taking steps to conserve now can help prolong the need to tap these additional water rights or mitigate any potential state, federal or judicial decisions that might limit Eugene's future water supply.

We urge citizens to be practical in your use of water this summer. It's not difficult. Wise use of water doesn't mean giving up a clean car or a beautiful lawn and garden, or changing lifestyles. A few simple actions can ensure that Eugene has enough water to serve our needs well into the future, but it may mean making some new and very smart choices.

Kitty Piercy is mayor of Eugene. Ron Farmer is president of the Eugene Water & Electric Board.