![\"Yakima](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/68d45f9ca2a47.image.jpg\")
<\/p>\nThe Department of Ecology’s unprecedented order to halt nearly all surface water use in the Yakima River Basin will end as expected after Oct. 31, according to a news release.\u00a0<\/p>\n
The order came about because of record-low reservoir storage and poor stream flows as the basin suffered a third year of drought.\u00a0The irrigation season for much of the basin ended on Oct. 6. Ecology worked with some towns in upper Kittitas County to help reduce water usage.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cThis was the first time we\u2019ve had to act on this scale to respond to an unprecedented water supply challenge,\u201d Ria Berns, Ecology’s water program manager said in the release. \u201cHowever, it may not be the last. That\u2019s why it\u2019s so important to continue investing in long-term conservation, storage, and habitat projects to secure our water supplies for future generations.\u201d<\/p>\n
Most cities in the Yakima River basin use groundwater or a mix of groundwater and surface water for their drinking water supply. In Upper Kittitas County, Roslyn and Ronald use Domerie Creek. Cle Elum, South Cle Elum and Suncadia use surface water from the Yakima River but have emergency wells for limited backup use.<\/p>\n
The towns\u2019 relatively less senior water rights were officially curtailed through Oct. 31, but taps in kitchens in these areas were not shut off.<\/p>\n
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Ecology was using discretion in its enforcement in its curtailment order to not interfere with drinking water. It worked with the cities on reducing nonessential use, like lawn watering.<\/p>\n
In Yakima, the city diverts water from the Naches River at the Nelson diversion to supply both drinking and irrigation water. It also has four groundwater wells that support drinking water demand. Irrigation water delivery stopped on Oct. 6.<\/p>\n
Editor’s note: This story has been updated to say the order ends after Oct. 31.<\/p>\n