(A) Stage 1: Reduction in water use. Reduction goal: 10%.
(1) Inside. Suggested voluntary conservation methods:
(a) Fix dripping and leaking faucets and toilets. A leak in the toilet can waste more than 100 gallons of water a day.
(b) Do not let the water run while shaving. Filling the sink basin when shaving uses 1 gallon of water, letting the water run uses 5 to 10 gallons.
(c) Do not flush the toilet unnecessarily. Consider installing water-saving toilets. Water-saving toilets use 1.6 gallons of water, standard toilets use 5 to 7 gallons of water each time it is flushed.
(d) Take shorter showers or fill bathtub only part way. Long showers waste 5 to 10 gallons of water every minute.
(e) Consider installing low-flow showerheads.
(f) Do not run the water while brushing teeth. Turning the water off while brushing your teeth can save 1.5 to 3.5 gallons of water.
(g) Do not run the tap to make water hot or cold. Keep a bottle of drinking water in the refrigerator so you don't have to run the tap to get a cool drink of water.
(h) Wash only full loads of dishes and laundry. A dishwasher uses approximately 25 gallons of water; a washing machine uses 30 to 35 gallons of water per cycle.
(i) Consider replacing any appliance that utilizes water with a low-flow type appliance if such appliance is not already low-flow.
(j) Reduce or eliminate the use of the garbage disposal.
(k) Wash fruits and vegetables in a basin instead of under running water.
(l) Notify hotel and restaurant patrons of water conservation goals.
(m) Serve water at restaurants only upon request.
(n) Encourage all hotels, motels, inns and bed and breakfast establishments to change sheets no more than every 4 days for guests staying that long, unless necessary or specifically requested by the guest.
(o) Adjust temperatures in buildings with water-cooled air conditioners to require less water.
(p) Use of reuse water for construction purposes if it is available.
(2) Outside. Suggested voluntary conservation methods.
(a) Raise your lawn mower cutting height. Longer grass needs less water.
(b) Delay planting any new grass, sod or other new landscaping.
(c) Do not fill swimming pools. If possible, cover the swimming pool, an uncovered pool will lose 900 to 3,000 gallons of water a month to evaporation, a covered pool losses 300 to 1,000 gallons a month.
(d) Use mulch around shrubs and garden plants to save soil moisture.
(e) Use a hose with a shut off nozzle if washing cars at home or wash at a facility that recycles water. Washing the car with the hose running uses 100 to 200 gallons of water.
(f) Sweep sidewalks and steps rather than hosing.
(g) Aerate turf areas.
(h) Know your plants water requirements and apply only the amount required for good plant health.
(i) Monitor ET data. Know how much moisture is lost to evapotranspiration (ET) as this is what needs to be replaced back into the soil for good plant health.
(j) Monitor soil moisture to determine if watering is needed.
(k) Water between the hours of 8:00 p.m. and 9:00 a.m.
(l) Avoid watering on windy days or midday when the evaporation rate is the highest.
(m) Keep fire hydrants closed.
(n) Repair leaks in hoses, pipes, faucets and connections.
(o) Limit operation of non-recycling fountains.
(p) Limit city fleet washing by 30% to 50%.
(3) Mandatory restrictions on nonessential water use. No outside spray irrigation use of water between the hours of 9:00 a.m. and 6:00 p.m.
(B) Stage 2: Mandatory water restriction. Reduction goal: 15 to 20%. Stage 1 restrictions will be in force.
(1) All parks, schools and cemeteries will be allowed to water every other day during permitted hours.
(2) Residential and commercial water users will be allowed to water outside during permitted hours on an odd/even concept as determined by address, (i.e. even addresses water on even days, and the like).
(3) Noncommercial car washing requires using a hose with an automatic shut off nozzle.
(4) Use of water for street and driveway washing will not be permitted.
(5) No planting any new grass or sod or other new landscaping.
(6) Water shall be served at restaurants only upon request.
(C) Stage 3: Additional mandatory restrictions. Reduction goal: 25% to 30%. All restrictions included in Stages 1 and 2 are in force.
(1) No use of fire hydrants for purposes other than fire protection.
(2) No use of water for ornamental use including, but not limited to, fountains, artificial waterfalls, and pools.
(3) No use of water for water games or to fill or top off swimming pools, hot tubs, and the like.
(4) Culinary water will not be used to irrigate city parks or golf courses or schools.
(5) Spray irrigation and hand watering may occur for a total of 15 minutes per landscaped area.
(6) Drip irrigation systems, bubbler or soaker hoses may be operated for a total of 2 hours.
(D) Stage 4: Water rationing plan. Reduction goal: 40% to 60%. All restrictions included in Stages 1, 2 and 3 will be in force.
(1) No watering of lawns.
(2) No watering of gardens, landscaped areas, trees, shrubs, and other outdoor plants, except by means of a bucket, pail, or handheld hose equipped with an automatic shut-off nozzle.
(3) The use of water for flushing sewers or hydrants by municipalities or any public or private individual or entity except as deemed necessary and approved in the interest of public health or safety and specifically approved by the town.
(4) The use of fire hydrants by the Fire Department for testing fire apparatus and for Fire Department drills, except as deemed necessary in the interest of public safety and specifically approved by the town.
(Ord. 2009-03, passed 6-15-2009; Am. Ord. 2015-02, passed 3-16-2015)