From time to time, during and following drought conditions, the aquifers which supply the water to the North Liberty municipal water utility may become significantly and seriously depleted so that there will not then be a sufficient supply of water to meet all customary and usual demands indefinitely. Under those conditions the Council may find and declare by resolution a public emergency water shortage, during which time the following measures and provisions shall be in effect to produce an orderly and suitable curtailment of water consumption and shall be implemented as follows:
1. When the Council has been notified either by the Superintendent or by the City Engineer that from an examination of City water supplies it appears that the City would be entering a critical period, the Council shall direct the City Clerk to send a notice to all customers of the water system of the City containing a warning as to the condition of the water supply and advising of the possibility that rationing measures may have to be implemented and that if the critical condition exists, an additional notice will be sent to all customers requesting that they voluntarily conserve water usage in order to protect the City’s water supply.
2. In the event that the municipal water supply reaches the point that it becomes critical and the Council is so advised, the Council shall immediately, by special meeting if necessary, adopt a resolution establishing that the procedures outlined in this chapter shall become immediately effective. Notice of said resolution and of this chapter shall immediately be sent to all customers and notice shall also be given by use of the media operating in the City. Upon the adoption of said resolution by the Council, the Superintendent shall also be fully prepared to establish a base allocation for each water customer of the City and notification shall be given of the allocation of water usage for that particular customer’s office, business or residence, and the said customer shall have 30 days from the date of the notice to appeal the base allocation. Said appeal shall be taken by filing a notice of objection with the City Clerk’s office at the City Hall.
3. Either the Superintendent or the City Engineer shall, upon determining that a water emergency no longer exists, or that the critical period has passed, so notify the Council and the Council shall by resolution cause the implementation of controls to be terminated. Notice of the termination shall be given to each customer.