MOSES LAKE — There are water conservation measures that the city of Moses Lake can do now that will help it meet anticipated future demand, according to the city’s draft water system plan. Ryan Withers, consultant with RH2 Engineering, Richland, told Moses Lake City Council members that water conservation now can buy the city some time.  

“It allows you to counter years and years worth of growth by simply using water more efficiently,” Withers said. 

Mayor Dustin Swartz said city officials are already working on some changes, including smaller lot sizes, options like duplexes and auxiliary dwelling units. Withers recommended that the city inspect the whole system for leaks about once every five years, along with some fees for water use in excess of a designated amount. City officials are working on installing automated water meters as well. 

“Being able to successfully implement most or all of those items will absolutely extend the ability of your existing facilities to continue to meet the needs of your growing system, which than allows you to defer the need for millions of dollars of improvements,” Withers said.  

The state requires every town to have a water system plan, he said, which must be updated periodically. Moses Lake’s plan needs one of those required updates. The plan is designed so that it can be adjusted as conditions change, he said. It also maps out possible improvements and upgrades to the system. 

“This includes the water main replacement program to replace undersized and aging pipe, some new facilities that would be necessary to serve new developments or are located in areas where they can’t currently be served and a few minor but really helpful pressure zone boundary adjustments that can take place over the next few years,” Withers said.  

The water plan is part of the city’s long-term study of water, water systems, and making sure there’s enough water to go around. Most of the city’s water comes from a deep underground aquifer that’s gradually declining, and city officials are looking at finding additional water sources to decrease the reliance on that aquifer. Withers said the water system plan does take the effects of the declining aquifer into account, which could affect the impact of water conservation.