Sequim tries sending reclaimed water to farms during drought

SEQUIM, Wash. (AP) — A Sequim pilot program to pump reclaimed water into Bell Creek will also provide irrigation to a local farm during drier times.

The Peninsula Daily News reports that in the pilot phase, additional water will be sent to one farm for pasture irrigation during periods of drought. If the trial run is successful, city officials say they hope to expand the project to serve more farms.

Sequim recently installed a pump, pipe and an energy dissipating waterfall to send purified sewage water into the creek just west of Washington Harbor.

The pilot program kicked off in response to the drought emergency declared by Gov. Jay Inslee for the east Olympic watersheds in March and then the statewide emergency declaration in May.