Water woes worsen

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The Port Townsend City Council voted unanimously July 20 to declare an emergency drought and fire hazard.

The declaration triggers a five-stage drought response plan that calls for city water customers to first voluntarily conserve while the city's largest water user, the Port Townsend Paper Corp. is to implement its own internal conservation plan.

If drought conditions don't improve and the city has to rely on water stored in Lords Lake, PT Paper, which co-manages the water system with the city, would be asked, in Stage 4, to limit its water use from its current estimate of 8 to 9 million gallons per day to 1 million gallons per day. City customers use about 1.2 million gallons daily.

Reducing the mill's daily use to 1 million gallons would be an unprecedented move and could shut production at the county's largest employer, a possibility that also prompted city officials to invite the state Department of Commerce to look at ways to help the paper company.

The city currently is at drought emergency Stage 1, but several city council members suggested Monday night that Stage 2 restrictions that would limit outdoor watering might not be far behind. (See story on page A16 for details.)

Because the city and the mill co-manage the public waterworks, they also have co-liability for the system's safe operation. And that liability issue prompted the council to go into a 15-minute executive session July 20 before coming out to vote on the emergency drought ordinance.

The July 20 vote came as state officials warned on July 17 that the drought situation throughout Washington is becoming worse than when Gov. Jay Inslee declared an emergency May 15. By the summer's end, officials expect all 39 counties to be in an emergency situation.

Water for public consumption is not the only concern locally and statewide. With no mountain snowpack, there is concern about a

lack of water m rivers for fash, a lack of water for farms and businesses and a growing concern about wildfires.

BIGGEST USER

In Jefferson County, the Port Townsend Paper Corp. is the biggest water consumer, typically using almost 10 times that of daily city water users.

Asked Monday before the council meeting whether he thinks the mill is doing all it can to conserve, city manager David Timmons referred to what he called an "antiquated lease agreement that pretty much gives the mill joint oversight of the system" with the city.

"There's always been plenty of water," Timmons said, adding that the mill has had no incentive in that lease to conserve. When the lease is renegotiated - it expires in 2020 - Timmons said any conservation improvements the mill is making now might need to be made permanent.

The mill currently receives water for free in exchange for managing and maintaining the system installed in 1927-28. That also is likely to change when a new lease is negotiated.

Mill General Manager Carr Tyndall said by email July 21 that three cooling towers have been installed. The towers are being leased at $10,000 per month apiece.

"We estimate that these will result in a savings of 2 million gallons a day," Carr said. However, because the mill's water demand fluctuates depending on what grades of products it manufactures and how processes stop and start, he said it's hard to say exactly how much water is being saved.

Tyndall noted that water is being taken from both the Big Quilcene and Little Quilcene rivers as of July 21 and mill officials want to conserve water in Lords Lake for as long as possible.

As for a mill shutdown due to drought conditions, Tyndall said, "At this time, any comments or strategies about future operating conditions would be mere speculating and that's not something we're prepared to do.

"There are many variables to consider including of course, the weather, lake levels, production demands, external events such as the pulp and container board markets, all would impact on any decision we make."

"Our overall objective is and always will be to achieve the best possible outcome from the circumstances we are in; for our employees, the community in which we operate and our customers," Tyndall said.

Felix Vicino, human resources manager, said the mill has an extensive water conservation plan that it has been developing, updating and adding to for the past 11 years.

"The mill is a large and complex system, so the conservation plan is also large and complex to deal with the many facets of the process," Vicino said.

Kevin Scott, the mill's sustainability manager, attended the council meeting Monday and said he was there to acknowledge the drought plan, which he called "a good solid plan."

Timmons acknowledged shutting down one or both paper machines and other processes earlier is the mill's decision, not the city's.

"That's the big question. We don't control that decision. The mill does," Timmons said. "At some point from the standpoint of not having adequate water, that becomes problematic. Right now we're trying to figure out what the stages will be and the events that will trigger that."

Although there were drought conditions in 2002 and 2009, no water emergency rose this far, this fast. Typically, low river flow becomes an issue in late August and September.

"This is uncharted territory," Timmons acknowledged of potentially not having enough water for the mill to continue to operate productively.

Timmons said Tyndall, who took over the mill's operations only a few months ago, has been attending meetings with the city on the issue.

"He's taking it seriously. He came in to do X and now all of the sudden he's doing Y," Timmons said.

Because the mill does not pay for water, Timmons said there is no monetary incentive for the mill to conserve. The city owns the water rights.

"Their view of this is very different than ours. Our view is to supply water for living," Timmons said.

Timmons admitted he expects to hear complaints from city residents being asked to conserve while the mill uses so much.

"Me stopping someone from watering their vegetable garden isn't gong to change the outcome in any measurable way. It's symbolic," Timmons said. "It will help, but it's like using a dropper in a bucket.

It's not going to add another day's worth of supply. Where the biggest reduction potential is is at the mill. For every 1 million [gallons] they can save, buys 1 million [gallons] for the city."

Timmons also said the public should get on board with learning about water conservation because, "we may have to go longer."

FIRE CONCERNS

The drought emergency isn't just about water. It's also about fire hazards.

The council agreed Monday that it might be necessary to draft a separate fire plan.

"Imagine North Beach burning because someone didn't mow their field," Timmons said earlier on Monday of how seriously he views the situation.

Section 3B in Ordinance 3131 gives Timmons authority to "direct immediate abatement of fire hazards and to seek court orders as necessary to accomplish same."

Timmons said he hoped to talk to Jefferson County officials about the emergency drought proclamation and get them on board, especially as it relates to fire concerns.

"I'll be recommending that because it's not just the city, it's the entire county," Timmons said.

A ban remains on all fires - campfires, beach fires, charcoal grilling, and outdoor burning of any kind - throughout all of Jefferson County.

COUNCIL CONCERNS

Several city residents spoke at the council meeting about being more aggressive with a conservation plan.

"I don't think you should adopt a plan unless it is sufficiently aggressive," said David Goldman.

Liz Hoenig Kanieski, who has worked in water resources, submitted written comments suggesting the drought contingency plan be more specific and identify exactly how many gallons a day the mill uses and how many days of water are left, as well as be more specific about the possibility of water quality being degraded when water is stored too long.

She also suggested making exemptions on watering for family food production or farming operations that rely on city water.

Deputy Mayor Kris Nelson suggested Stage 1 and 2 - which calls for restrictions on outdoor watering - be lumped together. She suggest the city lead by example and be more aggressive.

Councilor Deborah Stinson said people need to practice with conservation because mandatory restrictions are coming.

"It's voluntary this week and maybe by the end of the week that changes," agreed Councilor Michelle Sandoval, who noted that there are water leaks at Fort Worden State Park and that "it would seem important to get on with that."

The City Council's business meeting July 20 had a relatively large audience of about 16 people in addition to councilors and staff.

Bruce Lund, a managing director in the local government and infrastructure division at the state Department of Commerce, was in attendance and aware of the situation's gravity.

"We're concerned for impacts to the community and for the mill's potential closure," Lund said.

"At this time, any comments or strategies about future operating conditions would be mere speculating and that's not something we're prepared to do."

Carry Tyndall general manager Port Townsend Paper Corp.

ptleader.com:

The City of Port Townsend's drought contingency response plan is linked to this story at ptleader.com. City Ordinance 3131 declares an emergency related to water supply and fire hazard.

Another story on those five stages of the plan also are online at ptleader.com.