As water conservation efforts enter their eighth week, the city of Cordova has renewed requests that residents not waste water. This especially includes activities like watering the street in order to keep dust down, said Samantha Greenwood, director of public works.
“Anytime somebody’s just letting water run, it’s not good,” Greenwood said. “I understand that, in comparison to what the canneries are using, it’s not a lot, but every drop is important at this moment.”
Cordova’s water supply has been strained by unseasonably dry weather and the demands of fish processing. As of Monday, Aug. 19, two pumps are pulling water from Eyak Lake, and Meals Reservoir has fallen to 6 feet below the spillway, Greenwood said. If the reservoir falls below a level at which it can be pumped, Cordova will lose access to a water supply of 1,000 gallons per minute, she said.
“It’s low,” Greenwood said. “I mean, it is low. I can’t tell you where the point is where we can’t pump out of the reservoir anymore, but it’s getting critical … It’s just a crazy situation.”
A few street-waterers aside, residents have complied well with the city’s conservation requests, Greenwood said. The city asks that residents not water their lawns or wash their cars until Cordova receives substantial rain. Weekly updates on the city’s water supply can be found at cityofcordova.net.
“We’re just going to keep going and hope it rains soon,” Greenwood said.
