In the Seattle area, our drinking water comes from the Cedar and Tolt River watersheds. These reservoirs depend on a combination of steady fall and winter rains and accumulated snowpack in the mountains that melts gradually in the spring and summer.
This year started with below-normal snowpack: we’re currently at around 50% of average in our mountain watersheds. The team at Seattle Public Utilities (SPU) has been watching this closely, and we’ve been making smart moves to keep our water supply in good shape heading into the summer.
The good news
Right now, our water supply conditions are good. We expect to have enough water throughout the summer for people and to support fish flows on the Cedar and South Fork Tolt rivers.
That said, the next three months will tell us a lot. Weather patterns and reservoir levels over spring will give us a clearer picture of our water supply going forward and will help us decide whether any adjustments are needed.
You can check the current status of Seattle’s regional water system at: Water Supply Conditions.
What does this mean for you?
At this time, we are not asking people served by Seattle’s water system to cut back on their water use.
As always, we ask everyone to use water wisely. It’s a habit that helps people, fish, and the health of our local rivers and streams, no matter the season.
For tips on saving water at home and in your garden, visit the Saving Water Partnership.