Ridgefield residents and businesses are using less water even as the city continues to grow, according to a recent update from the City of Ridgefield.
Daily water demand has steadily declined over the past four years. Peak day water demand dropped 4.78% between 2022 and 2024, according to the city. In 2025, after Ridgefield launched its Water Conservation Strategy to reduce seasonal water demand, daily demand fell by another 3.5%.
Following the first year of the conservation plan, Ridgefield City Council adopted several updates in its June 18 meeting. The updates aim to keep the most effective measures while giving residents more flexibility.
The revised strategy removes restrictions on washing vehicles at home, changes rules for recreational water features and adds a three-day delay before the city moves into Stage 3 or Stage 4 conservation levels when cooler weather is expected.
City staff reviewed water-use patterns after receiving requests from residents to reconsider limits on home car washing. The city determined most residential vehicle washing occurs outside peak demand periods and has little effect on the water system. Because the restriction created inconvenience while offering limited conservation benefit, it was removed. Commercial car washes, which use recycled water, remain unrestricted under the strategy.
The updated plan also separates recreational water features from landscape water features. Recirculating recreational water features up to 5,000 gallons may now be filled between 10 a.m. and 7 p.m. Larger recreational features must receive approval and coordinate timing with the city before filling.
The new three-day delay for moving into higher conservation stages is intended to prevent a single day of extreme heat and high water use from automatically triggering tighter restrictions if demand is expected to return to normal shortly afterward.
City staff also reviewed water infrastructure projects intended to increase capacity as Ridgefield grows. Those projects include the Eastside Elevated Water Reservoir, Kennedy Well, a potential new wellfield and a future intertie with Clark Public Utilities.
As additional wells, reservoirs and interties come online, the city said thresholds for each conservation stage may be adjusted upward, making it less likely Ridgefield will need to enter higher restriction levels.
City officials said conservation remains important for managing peak demand while new infrastructure is developed to support the growing community.
