Spokane To Implement Drought Response Ordinance

According to a news release from the city of Spokane, Washington, “Spokane City Council voted 5-1 (Councilmember Bingle absent) to override the Mayoral veto of Ordinance C36209, which establishes water conservation and drought response measures.” The ordinance enacts voluntary water conservation measures and becomes effective immediately. 

An article by Amanda Roley for KREM2 notes that the ordinance contains two levels of voluntary restrictions. The second, stricter level would apply “when the Spokane River is predicted to fall below 1,000 cubic feet per second, or when the mayor or council declares a drought emergency.”

The press release acknowledges the lack of penalties or incentives for residents to participate. “Any enforcement of these new expectations won’t occur for at least two years, and there are no financial consequences for non-compliance. Codifying these measures is fundamentally rooted in education,” said Councilmember Lori Kinnear, a co-sponsor of the ordinance. “The City’s water department will provide education and community engagement to all water ratepayers within the city’s retail water delivery area on the importance of complying with the new ordinance highlighting the benefits to the community and the river.”