The following guidelines are adopted for managing demand during water supply emergencies.
(A) Trigger conditions. The city will initiate appropriate demand management measures upon occurrence of any one of the following trigger conditions.
(1) Stage one: mild conditions.
(a) Daily water demand exceeds 1,000,000 gallons or 80% of treatment or pumping capacity for seven consecutive days.
(b) Minimum water pressure within the distribution system remains below 30 pounds per square inch (psi) for 12 consecutive hours.
(c) Ground or elevated storage volume remains below 70% of capacity for two consecutive days.
(d) There are impending or actual system component failures in conjunction with water demand exceeding 80% of reduced treatment, pumping or distribution capacity.
(2) Stage two: moderate conditions.
(a) Daily water demand exceeds 1,250,000 gallons or 90% of treatment or pumping capacity for four consecutive days.
(b) Minimum water pressure within the distribution system remains below 30 psi for 24 consecutive hours.
(c) Ground or elevated storage volume remains below 60% of capacity for two consecutive days.
(d) There is impending or actual system component failure in conjunction with water demand exceeding 90% of reduced treatment, pumping or distribution capacity.
(3) Stage three: severe conditions.
(a) Daily water demand exceeds 1,500,000 gallons or 100% of treatment or pumping capacity for three consecutive days.
(b) Minimum water pressure within the distribution system remains below 30 psi for 36 consecutive hours.
(c) Ground or elevated storage volume remains below 50% of capacity for two consecutive days.
(d) There is impending or actual system component failure in conjunction with water demand exceeding 100% of reduced treatment, pumping or distribution capacity.
(e) There is imminent failure of one or more water system components where immediate health or safety hazards may result.
(4) Stage four: critical conditions.
(a) There is failure of one or more water system components resulting in immediate health or safety hazards.
(b) There is contamination of water supply or other disaster.
(B) Emergency demand management measures. The city will implement the following emergency demand management measures upon the occurrence of the defined trigger conditions:
(1) Stage one. Under stage one trigger conditions, water conservation measures will be voluntary and will include:
(a) Inform the public through the news media that a stage one mild trigger condition has occurred and encourage voluntary water use reductions;
(b) Activate an information center and utilize the news media to distribute information on water conservation methods and on the emergency demand management plan adopted by the city; and
(c) Publicize a voluntary lawn watering schedule such that customers water lawns only on alternate calendar dates. Recommend lawn watering only between the hours of 6:00 through 10:00 a.m. and 7:00 through 11:00 p.m.
(2) Stage two. Under stage two trigger conditions, water conservation measures include both voluntary and mandatory measures as follows:
(a) Inform the public through individual mailings and the news media that a moderate trigger condition has occurred and include a detailed description of voluntary/mandatory emergency demand management measures along with associated fines and enforcement procedures;
(b) Implement a mandatory five-day lawn watering schedule based on the last digit of the street address. Customers with street addresses ending in 0 or 9 may water the first day, 1 and 8 the second day, 2 and 7 the third day and the like. Lawn watering will be allowed only between the hours of 6:00 through 10:00 a.m. and 7:00 through 11:00 p.m.;
(c) Request a voluntary reduction of 20% in total water usage;
(d) Prohibit car, pavement and window washing, except when using a hand-held bucket; and
(e) Prohibit water uses which are not essential for public health or safety, including, but not limited to:
1. Filling of swimming pools;
2. Street washing;
3. Water hydrant flushing; and
4. Public park and athletic field water.
(3) Stage three. Under stage three trigger conditions, which are considered severe stage three conditions, conservation measures will be mandatory, and include the following:
(a) Inform the public through individual mailings and the news media that a stage three severe trigger condition has occurred and include a detailed description of mandatory emergency demand management measures along with associated fines and enforcement procedures;
(b) Prohibit all outdoor water use which is not essential for public health or safety;
(c) Establish maximum water use amounts for each customer based on his or her individual average winter use amounts. WINTER USE is defined as the amount of water consumed during those months used by the city to determine an individual’s wastewater flow (December, January and February); and
(d) Implement a user surcharge for excessive water used based on customer type and meter size.
(4) Stage four. Under stage four trigger conditions, which are considered critical conditions, conservation measures will be mandatory, and include the following:
(a) Continue implementation of all relevant actions established for less severe conditions;
(b) Arrange for supplemental water supply from alternative sources; and
(c) Ration or terminate water service to selected portions of the system or classifications of customers according to a specified priority schedule.
(C) Means of implementation. It will be the responsibility of the city to determine when a trigger condition is reached. When a trigger condition is reached, the city will begin implementation of the emergency demand management plan. The city will continue to monitor the water emergency until it is determined that a trigger condition no longer exists and then advise all entities of the change in condition.
(D) Initiation and termination procedures. With the occurrence of a trigger condition or when the occurrence of a trigger condition appears imminent, the public will be notified through announcements on television and radio and through publication of newspaper articles. In the event of occurrence of stage two trigger conditions, the public also will be notified by individual mailings. When trigger conditions have passed, the public will be notified immediately through the news media.
(E) Contracts with wholesale customers. The city will, as part of a contract for sale of water to any wholesale customer, including other political subdivisions, require the customer to adopt applicable provisions of the city’s water conservation and emergency demand management plan or already have a comparable plan in effect. These provisions will be through contractual agreement prior to the sale of water to the wholesale customer.
(2012 Code, § 88-83)