(A) Purpose. The purpose of this section is to provide for the declaration of a water supply watch, warning, or emergency and the implementation of voluntary and mandatory water conservation measures throughout the city in the event a watch, warning, or emergency is declared.
(B) (1) Definitions. For the purpose of this section, the following definitions shall apply unless the context clearly indicates or requires a different meaning.
CUSTOMER. The customer of record using water for any purpose from the city’s water distribution system and for which either a regular charge is made or, in the case of coin sales, a cash charge is made at the site of delivery.
WASTE OF WATER. Includes, but is not limited to:
1. Permitting water to escape down a gutter, ditch, or other surface drain; or
2. Failure to repair a controllable leak of water due to defective plumbing.
WATER. Water available to the city for treatment by virtue of its water rights or any treated water introduced, by the city into its water distribution system, including water offered for sale at any coin-operated site.
(2) Classes of uses of water. The following classes of uses of water are established:
(a) Class 1: Water used for outdoor watering either public or private, for gardens, lawns, trees, shrubs, plants, parks, golf courses, playing fields, swimming pools or other recreational areas; or the washing of motor vehicles, boats, trailers, or the exterior of any building or structure;
(b) Class 2: Water used for any commercial or industrial, including agricultural, purposes except water actually necessary to maintain the health and personal hygiene of bona fide employees while the employees are engaged in the performance of their duties at their place of employment;
(c) Class 3: Domestic usage, other than that which would be included in either Classes 1 or 2; and
(d) Class 4: Water necessary only to sustain human life and the lives of domestic pets and maintain standards of hygiene and sanitation.
(C) Declaration of water watch. Whenever the City Council finds that conditions indicate that the probability of a drought or some other condition causing a major water supply shortage is rising, it shall be empowered to declare, by resolution, that a water watch exists and that it shall take steps to inform the public and ask for voluntary reductions in water use. A watch shall be deemed to continue until it is declared by resolution of the City Council to have ended. The resolutions declaring the existence and end of a water watch shall be effective upon their publication in the official city newspaper.
(D) Declaration of water warning. Whenever the City Council finds that drought conditions or some other condition causing a major water supply shortage are present and supplies are starting to decline, it shall be empowered to declare by resolution that a water warning exists and that it will recommend restrictions on nonessential uses during the period of warning. A warning shall be deemed to continue until it is declared by resolution of the City Council to have ended. The resolutions declaring the beginning and ending of the water warning shall be effective upon their publication in the official city newspaper.
(E) Declaration of water emergency. Whenever the City Council finds that an emergency exists by reason of a shortage of water supply needed for essential uses, it shall be empowered to declare by resolution that a water supply emergency exists and that it will impose mandatory restrictions on water use during the period of the emergency. An emergency shall be deemed to continue until it is declared by resolution of the City Council to have ended. The resolutions declaring the existence and end of a water supply emergency shall be effective upon their publication in the official city newspaper.
(F) Voluntary conservation measures. Upon the declaration of a water watch or water warning as provided in divisions (C) and (D) above, the Mayor (or the City Manager) is authorized to call on all water consumers to employ voluntary water conservation measures to limit or eliminate nonessential water uses including, but not limited to, limitations on the following uses:
(1) Sprinkling of water on lawns, shrubs, or trees (including golf courses);
(2) Washing of automobiles;
(3) Use of water in swimming pools, fountains, and evaporative air conditioning systems; and
(4) Waste of water.
(G) Mandatory conservation measures. Upon the declaration of a water supply emergency as provided in division (E) above, the Mayor (or the City Manager) is also authorized to implement certain mandatory water conservation measures, including, but not limited to, the following:
(1) Suspension of new connections to the city’s water distribution system, except connections of fire hydrants and those made pursuant to agreements entered into by the city prior to the effective date of the declaration of the emergency;
(2) Restrictions on the uses of water in one or more classes of water use, wholly or in part;
(3) Restrictions on the sales of water at coin-operated facilities or sites;
(4) The imposition of water rationing based on any reasonable formula including, but not limited to, the percentage of normal use and per capita or per consumer restrictions;
(5) Complete or partial bans on the waste of water; and
(6) Any combination of the foregoing measures.
(H) Emergency water rates.
(1) Upon the declaration of a water supply emergency as provided in division (E) above, the City Council shall have the power to adopt emergency water rates by ordinance designed to conserve water supplies.
(2) The emergency rates may provide for, but are not limited to:
(a) Higher charges for increasing usage per unit of use (increasing block rates);
(b) Uniform charges for water usage per unit of use (uniform unit rate); or
(c) Extra charges in excess of a specified level of water use (excess demand surcharge).
(I) Regulations. During the effective period of any water supply emergency as provided for in division (E) above, the Mayor (or City Manager or Water Superintendent) is empowered to promulgate regulations as may be necessary to carry out the provisions of this section, any water supply emergency resolution, or emergency water rate ordinance. The regulations shall be subject to the approval of the City Council at its next regular or special meeting.
(J) Violations, disconnections and penalties.
(1) If the Mayor, City Manager, Water Superintendent, or other city official or officials charged with implementation and enforcement of this section or a water supply emergency resolution learn of any violation of any water use restrictions imposed pursuant to divisions (G) or (I) above, a written notice of the violation shall be affixed to the property where the violation occurred and the customer of record any other person known to the city who is responsible for the violation or its correction shall be provided with either actual or mailed notice. The notice shall describe the violation and order that it be corrected, cured, or abated immediately or within the specified time as the city determines is reasonable under the circumstances. If the order is not complied with, the city may terminate water service to the customer subject to the following procedures:
(a) The city shall give the customer notice by mail or actual notice that water service will be discontinued within a specified time due to the violation and that the customer will have the opportunity to appeal the termination by requesting a hearing scheduled before the City Council or a city official designated as a hearing officer by the City Council;
(b) If a hearing is requested by the customer charged with the violation, he or she shall be given a full opportunity to be heard before termination is ordered; and
(c) The City Council or hearing officer shall make findings of fact and order whether service should continue or be terminated.
(2) (a) A fee of $50 shall be paid for the reconnection of any water service terminated pursuant to division (J)(1) above.
(b) In the event of subsequent violations, the reconnection fee shall be $200 for the second reconnection and $300 for any additional reconnections.
(K) Emergency termination. Nothing in this section shall limit the ability of any properly authorized city official from terminating the supply of water to any or all customers upon the determination of the city official that emergency termination of water service is required to protect the health and safety of the public.
(Prior Code, § 51.20) (Ord. 557, passed 6-20-2000) Penalty, see § 51.99