Tumwater Water Resources & Sustainability Department shares its efforts to conserve water

Representatives from the Tumwater Water Resources & Sustainability Department recently shared water conservation efforts in the city, as the state of Washington battles drought conditions.

On April 8, the Washington State Department of Ecology declared a statewide drought emergency, marking the fourth straight year and the seventh time in the last decade the state has issued such an order. 

The Department of Ecology said while precipitation from October to November 2025 reached 104 percent of normal, much of it fell as rain rather than snow. The previous winter left Washington with roughly half its normal snowpack, which the state relies on because it feeds water systems as it melts through spring and summer. 

Carrie Gillum, who leads the city’s Drinking Water Program, said while Tumwater relies on groundwater rather than surface water, snowmelt helps replenish regional aquifers that support municipal water systems. She made her remarks during a Tumwater City Council meeting on Aug. 18.

Gillum said Tumwater’s water supply remains stable, even as years of persistent drought have reduced output across 11 production wells in the city.

“Our system is doing OK, but by monitoring this and knowing what's coming up, this is how we're able to keep on top of our communication to our community,” Gillum said. 

Gillum said staff track daily water production and compare it against maximum production capacity to determine the appropriate response to a possible water shortage.  

Under the city’s water shortage response plan, Tumwater enters a routine advisory stage each summer, when it actively promotes the voluntary reduction of water use. 

Gillum said the city has not reached conditions to trigger the next stage of measures, which happens when production wells only reach 90 percent of  maximum capacity for three days or only 95 percent of that capacity for a single day.

During the second stage, the city would have to ask the public to reduce water use during a specific time frame and restrict nonessential water use for city operations. 

Conservation efforts 

Dr. Alex Kate Helvey, the newly hired full-time staffer for the Water Conservation Program, detailed various measures the city is taking to encourage reduction of water use. 

Outreach efforts include social media campaigns, web content, messages from the mayor and bill inserts. 

Henley said free water conservation kits have generated a lot of community interest. According to the city's website, drinking water customers may stop by city hall to pick up indoor or outdoor water conservation kits for free. 

The indoor kit includes a WaterSense showerhead, water efficient faucet aerators, Teflon pipe tapes for preventing leaks and leak detection tablets for toilet tanks. 

The outdoor kit targets water waste with tools to boost a garden hose’s efficiency and measuring tools to help determine whether lawns actually need water. The kit includes a hose timer, water efficient hose nozzle, rain gauge and a soil moisture meter 

The city also offers rebates for residents who get certified toilets, washers and irrigation controllers that are more water efficient. 

Henley also talked about the city’s water quality report, which contains information on water efficiency, system leaks, as well as how the city is doing toward its conservation goals. 

She added staff are working to develop a strategic plan for education and outreach to align with various outreach efforts the city is already doing. 

The city also looks to itself as an example for residents.

Henley said the city has installed smart weather controllers on parks that respond to weather data and environmental inputs to reduce watering when it is not needed. The city has also been working to modernize water meters and employ data management practices to ensure water conservation efforts are data-driven.