City Decreases Water Alert to Stage 3 – Critical Water Shortage

The updated alert follows the Burdoin Fire, posing a risk to the surrounding areas, and aims to allow for some preventive watering while we still closely monitor reservoir levels. This reduction to Stage 3 is in place to keep residents aware that one of the pumps at LA Reservoir is still offline and the City is still at a reduced capacity.

This action is being implemented under the City’s Water Shortage Emergency Regulations (Ordinance 2022-09-1111) and aligns with the emergency authority granted under the Emergency Proclamation 2025-001 issued last month when the pump failure was discovered during routine maintenance.

The following Stage 3 restrictions are in effect until further notice:

• Mandatory water‑use reductions are now in effect.
• Odd/even lawn and garden irrigation schedule:
  • West side of Strawberry Mtn Rd (green): even‑numbered calendar days only
    • Manual watering allowed 6:00 a.m.–9:00 a.m.
    • Automatic/timer systems allowed 4:00 a.m.–9:00 a.m.
  • East side of Strawberry Mtn Rd (blue): odd‑numbered calendar days only
    • Manual watering allowed 6:00 a.m.–9:00 a.m.
    • Automatic/timer systems allowed 4:00 a.m.–9:00 a.m.
• Vehicle washing: prohibited except for:
  • Commercial/industrial vehicles washed on their own premises when required for maintenance
  • Licensed, permitted car‑wash facilities
• Surface cleaning: washing driveways, sidewalks, and other paved areas is prohibited.
• Orchard irrigation: prohibited.
• Pools and hot tubs: filling wading pools, swimming pools, and hot tubs is prohibited.

Background and Community Questions

The pump failure at the Los Altos Reservoir, discovered during scheduled maintenance, immediately jeopardized the system’s ability to move water from Buck Creek into the Strawberry Mountain Reservoir and onward to city water users. Replacement parts are currently being fabricated. In the meantime, conservation remains essential to avoiding further service disruptions.

In response to community questions, the City offers the following clarifications:

• Why wasn’t a temporary pump installed? The pump system is highly specific to White Salmon’s hydraulic conditions. Temporary solutions would require reengineering and Department of Health approval, which would have delayed restoration longer than pursuing custom replacement parts.
• Is fire protection still available? Yes. WKRFA remains in close coordination with the City, and fire response plans rely on alternate reservoirs and direct system access to ensure readiness.
• Why are we still being billed? State law requires water systems to maintain base rates to cover fixed costs such as staffing, infrastructure maintenance, and regulatory compliance—even during boil notices or usage restrictions.
• What’s the City doing long-term? The City’s 2024-approved Water System Plan outlines a comprehensive upgrade path. So far approximately $20M has been secured to modernize the mainline system delivery water into town. Additional projects to improve delivery in the affected area include installation of the North Main booster pump station to create a new pressure zone, and plans for an aquifer storage recovery system, which previously secured $1.6 million in federal funding before being rescinded in the 2025 budget approved by the federal government this past spring.
• Does this affect new development? No new development can proceed in the impacted pressure zone without meeting strict infrastructure requirements. New projects, such as the Spring Street development, will be served by an entirely separate pressure system currently under construction.

A Community Effort

Residents with additional questions are encouraged to contact Public Works Director Andrew Dirks at

(509) 281-4093 or visit www.whitesalmonwa.gov for the most up-to-date information.

Description of affected areas (shown in boundary map):