As a municipal water supplier, the City of Bellingham complies with state water use efficiency requirements that ensure safe, reliable drinking water supplies far into the future. The goal and measures for the 10-year planning period (2025-2035) are below, as adopted by City Council on March 24, 2025.
2025-35 Water Use Efficiency Program
A new 10-Year Water Use Efficiency plan was adopted by City Council on March 24, 2025.
2025-2035 Goal
- Keep consumption below 154 gallons per day per single-family residential account. This goal most closely reflects the City’s predicted consumption, based on demand projections, projected growth rates, and historical consumption.
Measures
The City adopted the following nine measures in order to achieve its comprehensive water use efficiency goal.
- Continue single-family residential rebate program
- Continue multi-family residential rebate program
- Continue commercial and institutional rebate program
- Continue high water use notification program
- Evaluate water billing rates to promote conservation
- Continue direct-install toilet and fixture program for low-income households
- Continue community education and engagement programs
- Explore updates to the City’s development code for irrigation systems and required fixture counts
- Evaluate a reduce water consumption in the City’s operating and maintenance procedures
Reports
The complete 10-Year Water Use Efficiency plan contains more detailed information about the above goals and measures, along with City water consumption and data.
The City’s Water Use Efficiency Annual Report includes information about water production, water loss and progress made toward achieving water saving goals for the year.
- Water Use Efficiency Annual Report 2023 (PDF)
- Water Use Efficiency Annual Report 2022 (PDF)
- Water Use Efficiency Annual Report 2021 (PDF)
- Water Use Efficiency Annual Report 2020 (PDF)
- Water Use Efficiency Annual Report 2019 (PDF)
- Water Use Efficiency Annual Report 2018 (PDF)
- Water Use Efficiency Annual Report 2017 (PDF)
- Water Use Efficiency Annual Report 2016 (PDF)
- Water Use Efficiency Annual Report 2015 (PDF)
- Water Use Efficiency Annual Report 2014 (PDF)
- Water Use Efficiency Annual Report 2013 (PDF)
- Water Use Efficiency Annual Report 2012 (PDF)
- Water Use Efficiency Annual Report 2011 (PDF)
- Water Use Efficiency Annual Report 2010 (PDF)
- Water Use Efficiency Annual Report 2009 (PDF)
The City Council adopted Legacies and Strategic Commitments (PDF) promote water conservation.
More Information
Please contact the Operations Division of the Public Works Department if you would like more information about Water Conservation.
