Drought Information
The City of Bend has taken thoughtful steps to plan for a reliable and long-lasting water supply. Thanks to careful planning, the City has a strong and flexible system that can meet the needs of its community well into the future.
Droughts are a natural part of life in Central Oregon. Over the past 100 years, records show that the Deschutes Basin tends to experience a drought about once every ten years. These dry periods can affect people in different ways. Looking ahead, scientists expect droughts to become more frequent and more intense due to climate change. There’s also concern about losing snowpack in the mountains, which plays a big role in our water supply.
Here in Bend, we’re fortunate to have two main sources of water: surface water from the Bend Municipal Watershed and groundwater from the Deschutes Regional Aquifer. These sources, along with the City’s strong focus on water conservation, help ensure we can meet the needs of homes, businesses, and industries now and in the future.
Landscape Irrigation Regulations
Normal landscape irrigation regulations for the City of Bend are:
- No irrigation between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m.
- Even addresses are allowed to irrigate on even-numbered calendar days.
- Odd addresses are allowed to irrigate on odd-numbered calendar days.
- No irrigation runoff, water entering the streets, or into storm drains.
Meeting Future Water Needs
Even though we’re using less water per capita thanks to conservation efforts, the City expects that more water will be needed over the next 20 years as our community grows. To prepare, the City has applied for a new groundwater right from the Oregon Department of Water Resources. Water System Planning is an ongoing body of work at the City.
It’s also important to know that not everyone in Bend gets water from the City. Some people get their water from private utilities like Avion or Roats, or from local irrigation districts. If you’re one of those customers, it’s a good idea to check with your provider about any drought-related updates.
No matter where your water comes from, we all share the responsibility to use it wisely.
Frequently Asked Questions
No. Thanks to Bend’s strong and flexible water sources, the City doesn’t expect any water shortages—even during drought years. Our surface water supply, combined with groundwater wells and a strong focus on conservation, helps ensure we have enough water to meet demand. Still, the City will continue to keep a close eye on water conditions and will update the community if anything changes.
City of Bend water customers already follow year-round watering rules, like:
- Watering on even or odd days based on your address.
- No watering between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m.
At this time, the City doesn’t plan to add more restrictions. However, everyone is encouraged to use water wisely. You can find helpful tips, rebates, and other resources on the City’s Water Curtailment page. And, the City has a plan for water curtailment that our customers may need to participate in if there’s ever a water shortage that impacts the City’s ability to keep adequate levels of water storage in our reservoirs for fire protection. Curtailment stages reduce water demand during supply shortages, which can happen as the result of prolonged drought or system failure from unanticipated events, including fire, lightning strikes, flooding, landslides, earthquakes and contamination, mechanical or electrical equipment failure, or events not under control of the City.
If you live in Bend but get your water from a private utility like Avion or Roats, your provider may have different rules. Be sure to check with them directly to find out if any drought-related restrictions apply to you.
If the Governor declares a drought in our area, the City of Bend will look at how it might affect our water system. Based on the situation, the City will decide whether to ask for voluntary water savings or put mandatory rules in place. Even if no curtailment is needed, the City will still encourage everyone to use water wisely through seasonal reminders and conservation programs.
Even though we expect to keep providing safe drinking water and water for basic needs, it’s smart to be prepared. The Oregon Health Authority recommends storing one gallon of water per person per day for emergencies.
You can also check out the City’s conservation tips to learn how to save water every day.
Additional Information & Resources
- City of Bend Water System Overview and Map
This one-page summary describes the City of Bend’s water sources and includes an illustrated water system “map” showing the general layout of the water distribution system. - Oregon Drought Conditions from the National Integrated Drought Information System.
Provides regularly updated drought information, mapping, and water resources and supply information at the state and county level. - Oregon Water Resources Department – Water Conditions Report
The OWRD Water Conditions Report is updated weekly and includes a variety of statewide information related to the water conditions of each basin. - Oregon Water Resources Department – Drought Watch
The OWRD Drought Watch website contains statewide information relating to drought conditions, drought declarations, and other informational resources. - US Bureau of Reclamation – Upper Deschutes Basin Study
The USBR Upper Deschutes Basin Study focuses on how the Deschutes Basin will perform in the face of changing water demands and a changing climate. The City of Bend is one of many water stakeholders involved in the study. - US Geological Survey Groundwater Hydrology of the Upper Deschutes Basin
This USGS study focuses on the groundwater hydrology of the Upper Deschutes Basin and how the potential impacts of groundwater use effects flows. - City of Bend WaterWiseTips.org
The City offers a wide variety of water conservation information, resources, and programs to help customers use less water. Water isn’t the only thing you will save! - Drought Resources for HOAs
Legislation regarding HOA and CC&R watering rules during a drought declaration. - Deschutes Basin Water Collaborative
The Deschutes Basin Water Collaborative is a mechanism for stakeholders to collaborate on critical water allocation and management issues in the Deschutes Basin, and develop strategies to meet stream flow, ecological, agricultural, and community needs for water.