The City of Renton’s underground aquifer that provides the city’s drinking water is holding steady, as other water utilities ramp up their conservation message in the face of drought-like conditions.

This year, water providers whose surface supplies literally rise and fall on the rains and snowmelt in the Cascades are keeping a close eye on their reservoirs and the weather forecast, but things are a little different in Renton.

Seattle Public Utilities, Cascade Water Alliance and other regional utilities this week declared a regional water advisory, warning of potential water shortages because of historic low river levels and encouraging the wise use of water.

The Cascade Water Alliance, which gets its drinking water from Seattle, serves the Skyway Water and Sewer District, Tukwila and four Eastside cities, including Bellevue and Issaquah.

Renton’s aquifer, however, is mostly immune to the immediate effects of dry weather because it’s recharged (or refilled) from sources miles way, making its groundwater supply more stable than a reservoir system, according to Lys Hornsby, Renton’s Utilities Systems director.

Any drop in the aquifer’s level because of dry summer weather doesn’t show up for four to six months, in time for fall rains to replenish it, Hornsby said.

Still, the City of Renton will send out its message of water conservation in utility bills and on Facebook to residents and businesses, as part of a regional conservation plan.

“We always urge people to use their water wisely,” Hornsby said. “We don’t want to overtax the aquifer, no matter what.”

Renton also aggressively protects its aquifer from contaminants.

Renton has managed to maintain constant water usage, despite an increase in population, because of conservation efforts, she said.

While Renton supplies most of its water from its aquifer, it relies on water from Seattle during periods of peak summer use or when it must “take down a reservoir,” she said, adding the latter is not going to happen during a drought.

So, potentially, a Seattle water shortage could affect Renton, she said.

Seattle describes the initial activation of response plans as precautionary and has joined with Everett and Tacoma to make sure the region is ready for a potential water shortage.

Hornsby said Seattle Public Utilities is still saying Seattle expects to have an adequate water supply until fall rains return to meet its needs and the needs of its suburban customers.

Seattle offers the following suggestion to carefully manage water and make sure it’s not wasted:

• Water before 8 a.m. or after 7 p.m., which reduces evaporation.

• It is better to have one or two deep waterings, rather than several shallow waterings.

• Fix obvious indoor and outdoor leaks such as faucets and hose bibs. Check for less obvious leaks such as silent toilet leaks and underground irrigation leaks.

• For silent toilet leaks, put several drops of food coloring in your toilet tank; after 10 minutes if you have color in the toilet bowl, you have a flapper leak.

• Wash vehicles at locations that recycle water.

• Use a broom rather than a hose to clean sidewalks, driveways, and patios.

• Wait until your clothes washer and dishwasher are full before starting a load.