Upon declaration and notice by the City Manager of a water supply shortage, the following shall be in full force and effect:
(A) Stage 1 Water Shortage. The following voluntary water restrictions shall be requested:
(1) Voluntary, commercial, manufacturing, institutional and residential conservation measures will be strongly encouraged and recommended including the following:
(a) Inspect and repair all faulty and defective parts of faucets and toilets.
(b) Use shower for bathing rather than bathtub and limit shower to no more than five minutes. Turn off water while soaping up.
(c) Do not leave faucets running while shaving, rinsing dishes, or brushing teeth.
(d) Limit use of clothes washers and dishwashers and when used, operate fully loaded.
(e) Limit lawn watering to that necessary for plant survival. Recommend that all watering occur between sunset and sunrise.
(f) Water shrubbery the minimum required, reusing household water when possible.
(g) Limit vehicle washing.
(h) Do not wash down outside areas such as sidewalks, patios, driveways, etc.
(i) Install water flow restrictions in showerheads and other water saving devices.
(j) Use disposable and biodegradable dishes where possible.
(k) Install water saving devices in toilets such as early closing flapper valves.
(l) Limit hours of water-cooled air conditioners.
(m) Do not fill swimming, wading pools, or decorative ponds.
(n) Do not allow children to play with water hose connected to the City water system.
(2) Water supply line pressure should be reduced where feasible to reduce water consumption if it will not adversely affect the operation of fixtures, equipment, public safety, or health devices.
(3) Conservation in public buildings, institutions, and similar facilities is encouraged by reducing pressure at plumbing fixtures and by installation of restricting devices.
(4) Water conservation should be followed during all phases of construction related activities. Where appropriate, water needed should be obtained from supplemental sources.
(B) Stage 2 Water Shortage. If the voluntary restrictions from Stage 1 are not sufficient, and the City water supply continues to decline, the mandatory water restrictions contained in Table 2 shall be imposed.
(C) Stage 2A Water Shortage. If the City water supply continues to decline after implementation of Stage 2 mandatory restrictions, the mandatory water restrictions shown in Table 2A, in addition to those from Stage 2, shall be imposed. In any situation where the terms and conditions of Stage 2A conflict with the terms and conditions of any other water shortage stage, the more restrictive shall apply.
(D) Stage 3 Water Shortage. If the City water supply continues to decline after implementation of Stage 2A mandatory restrictions, the mandatory water restrictions shown in Table 3, in addition to those from Stage 2A, shall be imposed. In any situation where the terms and conditions of Stage 3 conflict with the terms and conditions of any other water shortage stage, the more restrictive shall apply. Usage exceeding that defined in § 56.08 shall be subject to surcharge.
(1) It shall be unlawful to:
(a) Violate any water restriction shown in Table 3.
(b) Exceed the following water usage mandate: All residential customers shall comply with the allowable use quantities in § 56.08. All non-residential customers shall reduce their water usage by 10% of their average usage during a corresponding or comparable billing period, in which no Stage of this ordinance was in effect. If no meter readings are recorded or otherwise available for a customer's billing period, an average of similar users will be established for the customer by the Water Resources Director. Nonresidential customers include governmental, commercial, industrial, multi-family, institutional, public, social, and all other such users. It is the primary responsibility of each non-residential customer to meet its mandated water use reduction in whatever manner possible, including limitation of operating hours, or days, if necessary.
(c) Each customer shall provide access to City personnel for the purposes of meter reading and monitoring compliance with this ordinance. If the mandated reduction in water usage cannot be obtained without threatening health or safety, or if there has been a significant change in the customer's circumstances, the customer may apply to the City Manager, or his or her designee, for a variance to the mandate.
(E) Stage 4 Water Shortage. If the City water supply continues to decline after implementation of Stage 3 restrictions, the emergency water restrictions shown in Table 4, in addition to those from Stage 3, shall be imposed. In any situation where the terms and conditions of Stage 4 conflict with the terms and conditions of any other water shortage stage, the more restrictive shall apply. Usage exceeding that defined in § 56.08 shall be subject to surcharge.
(1) It shall be unlawful to:
(a) Violate any water restriction shown in Table 4.
(b) Exceed the following water usage mandate:
1. All residential customers shall comply with the allowable use quantities in § 56.08. All non-residential customers shall reduce their water usage by 25% of their average usage during a corresponding or comparable billing period, in which no Stage of this ordinance was in effect. If no meter readings are recorded or otherwise available for a customer's billing period, an average of similar users will be established for the customer by the Water Resources Director. Nonresidential customers include governmental, commercial, industrial, multi-family, institutional, public, social, and all other such users. It is the primary responsibility of each non-residential customer to meet its mandated water use reduction in whatever manner possible, including limitation of operating hours, or days, if necessary.
2. Each customer shall provide access to City personnel for the purposes of meter reading and monitoring compliance with this ordinance. If the mandated reduction in water usage cannot be obtained without threatening health or safety, or if there has been a significant change in the customer's circumstances, the customer may apply to the City Manager, or his or her designee, for a variance to the mandate.
(F) Stage 5 Water Shortage.
(1) If the City water supply continues to decline after implementation of Stage 4 restrictions, the rationing water restrictions shown in Table 5, in addition to those from Stage 4, shall be imposed. In any situation where the terms and conditions of Stage 5 conflict with the terms and conditions of any other water shortage stage, the more restrictive shall apply. Usage exceeding that defined in § 56.08 shall be subject to surcharge.
(2) It shall be unlawful to:
(a) Violate any water restriction shown in Table 5.
(b) Serve food or beverages in restaurants, cafeterias, and other commercial food establishments to customers using anything other than disposable plates, saucers, cups, utensils, napkins, and tablecloths.
(c) Exceed the following water usage mandate: All residential customers shall comply with the allowable use quantities in § 56.08. All non-residential customers shall reduce their water usage by 50% of their average usage during a corresponding or comparable billing period, in which no Stage of this ordinance was in effect. If no meter readings are recorded or otherwise available for a customer's billing period, an average of similar users will be established for the customer by the Water Resources Director. Nonresidential customers include governmental, commercial, industrial, multi-family, institutional, public, social, and all other such users. It is the primary responsibility of each non-residential customer to meet its mandated water use reduction in whatever manner possible, including limitation of operating hours, or days, if necessary.
(d) Make any new service connections to the City water system except for public and other schools satisfying the compulsory education requirements of the laws of the State of North Carolina, public facilities for sheriff, police, fire protection, hospitals and emergency medical services, and facilities of public service companies regulated as public utilities under the laws of the State of North Carolina.
(G) The Water Resources Director shall utilize water production and customer billing data to evaluate the effectiveness of water use restriction and actual water savings.
(H) Requests from water customers for a variance from the stated water restrictions shall be sent in writing to the Water Resources Director. The request shall outline the basis and justification for the variance request including, but not limited to, the number of persons in the home, medical conditions, severe economic hardship, and the like. Each request shall also outline the conservation measures that have been adopted by the customer and an acknowledgment of receipt of all public information items regarding water conservation provided by the City. The Director shall review each request and send a recommendation to the City Manager. The City Manager’s decision related to each request shall be final.
(Ord. O-2002-51, passed 8-20-02; Am. Ord. O-2007-35, passed 12-4-07; Am. Ord. O-2010-01, passed 1-19-10)