(A) Whenever the Mayor of the city is informed by the City Manager that either the drinking water supply is limited or that raw water supplies are consistently below seasonal averages, and if this supply continues to decline, it may not be adequate to meet the city's normal needs, the Mayor is empowered to declare by adoption of this subchapter that Phase I, II or III mandatory conservation conditions exist. In addition, the Mayor (or City Manager or his or her designee) is authorized to call upon all water customers to employ mandatory water conservation measures as outlined in Addendum 2. The city shall continue to encourage voluntary water conservation measures defined under the voluntary conservation declaration, and further shall impose a ban on water uses for the duration of the shortage as defined in Addendum 2. These restrictions shall continue until it is ended by the announcement of return-to-normal conditions by the city. The Declaration of Phase I, II or III Mandatory Conservation Measures shall be published in a newspaper of general circulation in the area which qualifies under G.S.§ 1-597, and may be publicized through the general news media, radio, cable TV, or any other appropriate method for making such information public. In the case of a drought, a Declaration of Mandatory Conservation shall be imposed when the level of the Neuse River at the city’s intake structure reaches 50 feet MSL.
(B) Situations could occur that declaration of mandatory water conservation is necessary even before the river level reaches 50 feet MSL. Examples include, but are not limited to: (1) If the city is informed that the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers has significantly reduced the flow from the Falls Lake Dam and that water supply to the city will be limited; (2) If water lines are broken and drinking water is in short supply. In these types of situations, the Mayor (or City Manager or his or her designee) is authorized to call upon all water customers to employ mandatory water conservation measures as outlined in the Addendum 2.
(Ord. 2005-105, passed 11-21-05; Am. Ord. 2007-91, passed 10-25-07; Am. Ord. 2009-60, passed 8-3-09)