SPOKANE COUNTY, WASH. — The City of Spokane has escalated its drought response to Level 2 as the Spokane River’s flow dipped below 1,000 cubic feet per second, triggering stricter water conservation measures for all residents and businesses.
Under Level 2, outdoor watering is now limited to no more than two days per week, down from four days under Level 1. The city is also prohibiting residents from using water to clean hardscapes such as sidewalks, driveways, decks and patios, instead encouraging them to sweep these surfaces.
The drought response measures are part of the Drought Response Measures Ordinance, which City Council approved in 2022. The ordinance takes effect each summer from June 1 through October 1 and applies to every City of Spokane water customer.
Level 2 Restrictions:
No outdoor watering between 10 a.m. and 6 p.m.Watering limited to no more than two days per weekA maximum of two hours of watering per dayNo using water to clean hardscapes
Exemptions are allowed for trees, newly planted landscapes, vegetable gardens and wildfire mitigation efforts. The city maintains an odd/even watering schedule to help residents comply while maintaining healthy landscapes.
The city’s drought response system is triggered by streamflow data from the U.S. Geological Survey’s Spokane River monitoring station, located between the Maple Street Bridge and Sandifur Memorial Bridge. The station continuously monitors river flow in 15-minute intervals.
For more information, residents can visit my.spokanecity.org.
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