PORT ANGELES — The city of Port Angeles has declared a Stage II water shortage due to low flow rates in the Elwha River.

A Stage II, or serious, shortage calls for voluntary conservation measures such as:

• Installation of low-flow shower heads and faucets that are available for free at city hall.

• Reduction in frequency and volume of lawn watering as well as limiting it to early morning or evenings.

• Installing water-efficient toilets, rain barrels, watering timers and soil moisture meters.

• Reduction in the frequency of car washing.

• Operation of automatic dishwashers and clothes washers only when full.

• Collection of cold or cool water while waiting for hot water to reach the faucet, then using this water for watering plants.

Clallam County Public Utility District #1 has also declared a Stage 2 water alert for customers in the the Gales Addition, Mt. Angeles and Monroe water systems in response to the city’s alert.

The PUD has already issued a Stage 2 alert for the Upper Fairview Water System, a Stage 3 alert for the Clallam Bay/Sekiu Water System and a Stage 4 alert for the Island View Water System.

For more information, call the city’s public works and utility department at 360-417-4715 or visit www.cityofpa.us/807/water-conservation.