— from Paul Kamin for Eastsound Water —
During the first three weeks since Governor Inslee issued a Shelter in Place Order on March 25, there has been a noticeable impact on water use on the Eastsound Water system.
The below chart compares 2019 and 2020 water use from March 25 to April 14. With the majority of Eastsound businesses shut down, 2020 water use by the commercial members is down 61% compare to 2019. Residential Water use has been remarkably stable. Multi Unit water use, from apartment complexes and affordable housing developments is up 7%.
Eastsound Water has developed financial aid programs for our members in response to the COVID impacts on our community. If paying your water bill is a challenge call our office or check our website.
Hmmm. Why isn’t residential use up? Shouldn’t we all be washing our hands more often?
Neil I’m guessing it’s all the empty vacation rentals not using water and us washing our hands more keeps things even.
And flushing toilets more often, too.
Good explanations; thanks for the insight.
It couldn’t be “all the empty” vacation rentals. With the exception of the white condos in town most vacation rentals have cars parked in their driveways… and they have every since the CV-19 declaration hit. West Beach Resort are the only vacation rental owners that have actually placed a travel restriction notice on their Airbnb listing.
Yup, a quick look on the first page of Airbnb shows about half the vacation rentals are open for business… business as usual.
Let’s face it, many vacation rentals throughout the islands have never shut down. As always, it’s the bad operators that make all of the rest look bad.
Kudos to those doing it right… health first.