From and after passage of this subchapter, water will be supplied to air-conditioning and/or refrigeration systems subject to the following provisions.
(A) The terms AIR-CONDITIONING SYSTEM and REFRIGERATION SYSTEM, for the purposes hereof, shall mean those systems using water from the city water mains for the dissipation of the heat of compression and for condensation of refrigerant, as differentiated from those systems using air as a cooling medium for those purposes.
(B) A WATER CONSERVING DEVICE shall mean a water cooling tower, spray pond, evaporative condenser or other equipment, by which city water after use is cooled through contact with the air and by evaporation, and is recirculated and re-used, thereby limiting the use of fresh water from the water mains to replace that water lost by evaporation and windage.
(C) (1) All water cooled air-conditioning and/or refrigeration systems, regardless of horsepower size, and whether in single or multiple units, using the city water supply, shall be equipped with and have in operation a water conserving device.
(2) The city water to be supplied to each such system shall not exceed two-tenths gallons per minute per compressor horsepower of the system.
(3) If an incident of short duration occurs when the condensing pressure in the system becomes sufficiently high as to endanger life or property, additional water may be used for the duration of the incident upon receipt of permission to so do from the Department of Municipal Services.
(4) During the off-peak season of the demand upon the city’s water system, between November 1 and May 1 of the succeeding year, a greater volume of water than that specified herein may be used in air-conditioning or refrigeration systems provided the city in the exercise of discretion by the Department of Municipal Services, grants permission for the use of the greater volume of water.
(D) The taking of city water as a prime cooling medium for any space, product or similar use, or through a mechanical system as described in divisions (A) through (C) above without installation of a water conserving device which recirculates and reuses the water used is prohibited.
(Prior Code, § 52.13) (Ord. 06-007, passed 1-24-2006; Ord. 2014-007, passed 2-11-2014; Ord. 2015-033, passed 11-10-2015) Penalty, see § 52.999