(A) During a declared water supply shortage it shall be necessary to impose temporary water rate increases to ensure adequate operating revenue and to encourage conservation. The following table shows the magnitude of rate increase to be imposed, above the prevailing fee schedule, for the volumetric usage charge per 1,000 gallons. This shall apply to all customer classes. Monthly customer charges shall not be increased by these percentages. Increases shall be prorated over the billing period based on the effective date of the water shortage declaration.
Water Shortage Stage
|
% Increase
|
Stage 1
| None |
Stage 2
and 2A
| 5% |
Stage 3
| 15% |
Stage 4
| 30% |
Stage 5
| 50% |
(B) During a declared water supply shortage it shall also be necessary to impose additional fees for excessive water use. For residential accounts the allowable use shall be based on a fixed monthly allowable volume as shown below. For residential accounts having both a domestic and irrigation metered service, allowable use shall be based on the consumption for both meters. Fines for unauthorized taking of water as defined in Chapter 53 of this Code, shall be doubled during any declared water shortage. For non-residential accounts, allowable use shall be based on a required percentage reduction from their average usage during the most recent 12 months in which no water shortage declaration was in effect. For example, a 10% reduction will result in an allowable use of 90% of previously demonstrated usage from the previous 12-month period. If no meter readings are available for a customer's billing period, an average of similar users will be established for the customer by the Water Resources Director. Such customers shall include governmental, commercial, industrial, institutional, public, multi-family, and all other such users. The following table shows the allowable usage quantities and the excessive usage charge.
Water Shortage Stage
|
Allowable Use Quantity
|
Excessive Use Fee
| |
Residential
|
Commercial
|
(Per 1,000 Gallons)
| |
Stage 1
| N/A | N/A | None |
Stage 2
and 2A
| N/A | N/A | None |
Stage 3
| 6,000 Gal | 90% | 5 Times Existing Rate |
Stage 4
| 5,000 Gal | 75% | 5 Times Existing Rate |
Stage 5
| 4,000 Gal | 50% | 10 Times Existing Rate |
(C) It is the primary responsibility of each non-residential customer to meet its mandated water use reduction by utilizing whatever means necessary, including limitation of operating hours, days, etc. Each customer shall provide access to City personnel for the purpose of meter reading and monitoring compliance with this ordinance. If the mandated reduction in water use 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 this mandate.
(Ord. O-2002-51, passed 8-20-02
; Am. Ord. O-2007-35, passed 12-4-07
)