FOLLOWUP: Here’s how Seattle Parks says it’s responding to ‘use less water’ call

(File photo – West Seattle aerial view by Long Bach Nguyen)

With so much parkland in West Seattle, we thought you’d be interested in how Seattle Parks says it’s responding to the “use less water” request announced this morning:

The majority of Seattle Parks and Recreation’s water use is on irrigation (only 6% of our water use goes to pools), and thus that is where we focus our conservation efforts.

Water conservation efforts we employ year-round:

-Remotely controlled irrigation systems are adjusted depending on weather and can immediately detect leaks.
-Regular irrigation system checks by staff and expedited repairs when breaks are reported.
-New parks and facilities are built with the latest water conservation technology.
-During this Water Shortage Voluntary Reduction, Seattle Parks and Recreation will:

-Reduce irrigation for non-high use lawns and most garden beds.
-Reduce irrigation within golf courses.
-Wash vehicles for health and safety reasons only (including golf carts)
-Turn off decorative fountains.

We must be prudent in deciding how to conserve water during this time as more significant water conservation efforts would likely cause harm to our living assets, reduce public access to parks and amenities, and cost millions to repair. For these reasons, the following water use at park spaces will continue during the voluntary stage of Seattle’s water shortage:

-Power-washing restrooms to ensure sanitary access to park restrooms.
-Irrigating golf greens, specialty gardens, and newly established landscapes
-Supporting our urban forests to preserve their climate change fighting abilities.
=Irrigate actively used and destination park lawns, athletic fields, and food-growing gardens in parks.

If you do spot a leak in a park or recreation facility, please submit a Find It, Fix It request so we can repair it right away.

You can also call the Parks maintenance hotline, 206-684-7250.

4 Replies to "FOLLOWUP: Here's how Seattle Parks says it's responding to 'use less water' call"

  • Stewart L. September 21, 2023 (4:02 pm)

    Irrigation leaks can take many, many months to get fixed. I’ve reported ones along the walking path at Don Armeni (which should be dead obvious to parks department employees, especially on warm, sunny days), and it takes forever for them to get repaired. Their system is not nearly as robust as they say it is.

  • Kyle September 21, 2023 (8:40 pm)

    Parks in general is not very robust. 

  • ACG September 21, 2023 (11:24 pm)

    Not Parks related, but I’m shaking my head at the water leak running down the street in the Junction (maybe on 42nd?- can’t remember) that was being reported for MONTHS by residents before the city finally fixed it. 

  • SJ September 22, 2023 (10:10 am)

    I use parks daily. The scope and scale of programs available to our community is outstanding: swim lessons, after school care, art classes, sports and martial arts, candy egg hunts, nature walks, dance lessons, safe spaces, teen jobs and leadership development, Halloween carnivals, cabins, off-leash areas for dogs, climbing walls, environmental education, picnic shelters, splash parks, wading pools, life guards (and life guard training), pancake breakfasts, concerts, public restrooms, green spaces, beaches, playgrounds, lakes, trails, exercise circuits, boathouses, community centers, tennis/pickleball courts, gardens… (I can keep going).

    Sometimes, they should fix sprinkler leaks more quickly. I don’t think it’s necessary to slam the entire parks department because of it.

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