Sec. 24-77. - Declaration of a water distribution crisis.

   (a)   In event of mechanical, structural, or other type of failure or hydraulic limitation of any part of the county water transmission and distribution system, upon notification by the JCDPU, the County Manager may declare a water distribution crisis. These restrictions may be imposed by the County Manager after consideration of all of the following factors:

   (1)   Water pressure at monitoring locations of the JCDPU water distribution system.

   (2)   Ability to fill elevated water tanks of the JCDPU water distribution system and/or bulk user tanks.

   (3)   Ability to maintain minimum safe water pressure levels in any portion of the JCDPU water distribution system.

   (b)   A water distribution crisis for any part or the entire distribution system may be implemented by the County Manager by issuing a notice of declared water distribution crisis. The notice shall be in effect beginning with the date and time specified in the notice and the restrictions imposed shall apply during the times specified in the notice.

   (c)   During a declared water distribution crisis, the County Manager may impose the restrictions as for a water shortage alert (see section 24-74) or a water shortage emergency (see section 24-75) at all times or during such limited times as the County Manager upon advice of the Director of JCDPU, determines to be appropriate. The restrictions on water use may be limited to a portion(s) of the distribution system or the entire system as deemed appropriate by the JCDPU and County Manager.

(Amend. of 3-3-2008(2); Amend. of 4-5-2010)

Sec. 24-78. - Shortage water rates.

   Upon the declaration of any level of water supply shortage, as provided in sections 24-74 through 24-77, the Board of Commissioners shall have the authority to adopt shortage water rates designed to conserve water supplies. Such rates may provide for:

   (1)   Increasing commodity rates, that is, higher charges per unit for increasing usage.

   (2)   Surcharges on the (minimum) monthly availability fee.

   (3)   Excess demand surcharge, charges for use in excess of a specific level.

   (4)   Good citizen rate, discounts for conserving water beyond specified levels.

   The effectiveness of water demand reduction from the adoption of shortage water rates will be based on the analysis of daily demand during the declaration period compared to the most recent normal period of daily demand as well as historical usage trends.

(Amend. of 3-3-2008(2); Amend. of 4-5-2010)

Sec. 24-79. - Substitute Officers.

   In event the County Manager or the Director of Public Utilities are absent during a water crisis, their designated surrogates shall be the Chairman of the Board of Commissioners and the Assistant Director of Public Utilities, respectively.

(Amend. of 3-3-2008(2))

Sec. 24-80. - Adoption and amendment of water conservation ordinance.

   The water conservation ordinance is filed under the county's Code of Ordinances which requires the Board of Commissioners to give notice of and hold a public hearing for any adoption or amendment of ordinances. The water conservation ordinance is subject to review for amendment at least every five years, to adapt to new circumstances (e.g. new water sources, etc.), and after implementation of any declaration of water shortage requiring mandatory restrictions as defined in section 24-76 (Declaration of a water shortage emergency) and section 24-77 (Declaration of a water distribution crisis) of this division.

(Amend. of 4-5-2010)

Secs. 24-81—24-100. - Reserved.