Water Resources Advisory Board (City of Bellingham)

The Water Use Efficiency Program discussion dominated the meeting, revealing the complexity of balancing conservation goals with practical realities. Staff explained that while Bellingham has been highly successful at water conservation—using significantly less than national averages—the law of diminishing returns is setting in. As Riley Graham noted, "We're getting to the kind of the bottom of the barrel when it comes to some of these conservation measures." The program faces a fundamental challenge in messaging conservation to residents when water usage represents only a small portion of utility bills. As staff explained, doubling water rates would only increase a typical bill by about $6 because water usage costs are overwhelmed by infrastructure and treatment expenses. This creates a disconnect between conservation efforts and customer financial incentives. The metering problem at the…

**Riley Graham (Staff Presenter)** emphasized the program's success in meeting state requirements while acknowledging growing challenges. She highlighted the transition from production-based to consumption-based goals due to metering reliability issues, and stressed the importance of aligning conservation efforts with the broader water system plan. **Brett Lane (Chair)** advocated for continuity in leadership, arguing that his abbreviated tenure due to missed meetings warranted another term to provide stability as the board learns to work together effectively. **Rick Egger (Board Member)** championed the principle of rotating leadership, emphasizing his extensive experience managing committee…

**Riley Graham, on conservation messaging:** "Conservation is not gonna help us save money on your water bill... the sunk cost to manage the water system, we're there. So if you use less water, then we're base charge is gonna go up." **Brett Lane, on leadership continuity:** "I feel like I've got a pretty good grasp on the fact that we are an advisory board to the city and make sure that we stay within that role." **Rick Egger, on rotation principle:** "I feel like this is a position that sh…

**Leadership Structure:** Board retained current chair but established clear succession planning with commitment to rotation in 2026, creating stability while honoring democratic principles. **Conservation Goal Framework:** Program shifted from production-based peak day demand targets (14 million gallons per day) to consumption-based per-capita targets (154 gallons per day per single-family account), reflecting data reliability issues and better alignment with water system planning. **Program Duration:** Water Use Efficiency Program timeline changed from 6-y…

### Meeting Overview The Bellingham Water Resources Advisory Board met on February 25, 2025, to review the city's water use efficiency program, elect new leadership, and approve a resolution supporting the program's next 10-year plan. The meeting focused heavily on how the city conserves water and meets state requirements for municipal water systems. ### Key Terms and Concepts **Municipal Water Law:** A 2003 Washington state law requiring water systems to develop conservation programs, fully meter their systems, and meet distribution leakage standards. This law drives most of Bellingham's water efficiency requirements. **Peak Day Demand (PDD):** The highest amount of water used in a single day, typically occurring during summer months when people water lawns and gardens. Bellingham's goal is to keep this below 14 million gallons per day. **Water Use Efficiency Program:** A state-mandated conservation program that includes rebates, education, and tracking measures. Bellingham must implement nine specific conservation measures as a system with up to 50,000 service connections. **Distribution Leakage:** Water lost through pipe breaks and system leaks. State law required all water systems to meet a 10% maximum leakage standard by 2020. **Service Connection:** Essentially a water meter - each property's connection to the city water system, regardless of how many people live there. **Single Family Residential Account:** Properties with 1-4 units that have their own water meter. Anything with 5+ units is considered multifamily and typically has one shared meter. **Irrigation Meter:** A separate water connection for outdoor watering that doesn't include sewer charges, making it cheaper for properties with large landscaping needs. **Lake Whatcom:** Bellingham's primary water source, serving both city customers and several water districts in the region. ### Key People at This Meeting | Name | Role / Affiliation | |---|---| | Brett Lane | RAB Chair (re-elected) | | Martin Chelstead | RAB Vice Chair (elected) | | Rick Eggers | RAB Member (ran for chair) | | Carl Benson | New RAB Member | | Kristen McDade | RAB Member | | John Peppel | RAB Member | | Francesca White | RAB Member | | Riley Graham | Public Works Communications Manager | | Mike Wilson | Public Works Assistant Director | | Jim Mergner | City Staff | | Toril Ramsey | Public Works Communications | ### Background Conte…