North Bend activates water-saving measures amid ongoing drought

The city of North Bend is expanding its request of neighbors to conserve water as moderate drought conditions continue spread throughout Washington state.

Starting this Thursday, Oct. 20, North Bend is activating stage 2 of its water conservation ordinance.

That means a series of water-saving measures. Residents are directed to water their lawns and pastures three days a week between 6 p.m. and 10 a.m. in the morning. No watering is allowed on Mondays, and things like street and driveway washing will not be allowed.

Also, restaurants will only serve water upon request. And no water for construction purposes is allowed without city approval.

All of these changes will stay in effect until further notice. See the full list of water-saving measures here.

According to the city: "Earlier this year, the City was hopeful Stage 2 would not be needed - due to the fairly large preceding winter snowpack and cool, wet spring. However, once the dry heat arrived in the Puget Sound region in June, it did not leave. Western Washington is now experiencing its driest summer on record, since 1930 and warmest since the 1890s. In fact, according to the National Weather Service, on October 16, Seattle hit 88 degrees, its second warmest day in October in almost 130 years. The prolonged period with no rain, along with an unseasonably hot September and October, have drawn the Masonry Pool lower at a faster pace than anticipated."

Depending on the region, Washington state's current drought conditions range between "moderate drought" to "abnormally dry."