(A) Triggering criteria for initiation and termination of drought response stages. The Mayor, or his or her designee, shall monitor water supply and/or demand conditions on a daily basis and shall determine when conditions warrant initiation or termination of each stage of the Plan. Public notification of the initiation or termination of drought response stages shall be as set forth in division (D). The triggering criteria described below is based on lack of sufficient water for continued normal use considering future supply.
(1) Stage 1 - mild water shortage conditions.
(a) Requirements for initiation. Customers shall be requested to voluntarily conserve water when water shortage at Falcon and Amistad reservoirs are sufficiently low to require agriculture irrigation allocations to be reduced to 50% of full allocation.
(b) Requirements for termination. Stage 1 of the Plan may be rescinded when Falcon and Amistad reservoirs have sufficient water to allow water for full agricultural allocation.
(2) Stage 2 - moderate water shortage conditions.
(a) Requirements for initiation. Customers shall be required to comply with the requirements and restrictions on certain non-essential water uses provided in division (B) of this Plan when agricultural use of irrigation water is discontinued.
(b) Requirements for termination. Stage 2 of the Plan may be rescinded when agricultural use of irrigation water is allowed. Upon termination of Stage 2, Stage 1 becomes operative.
(3) Stage 3 - severe water shortage conditions.
(a) Requirements for initiation. Customers shall be required to comply with the requirements and restrictions on certain non-essential water uses for Stage 3 of this Plan when service or delivery water storage in Falcon and Amistad reservoirs is reduced by 50% by the Water Master.
(b) Requirements for termination. Stage 3 of the Plan may be rescinded when service or delivery water storage in Falcon and Amistad reservoirs are restored to allow Stage 2 to become operative.
(4) Stage 4 - critical water shortage conditions.
(a) Requirements for initiation. Customers shall be required to comply with the requirements and restrictions on certain non-essential water uses for Stage 3 of this Plan when municipal allocations are reduced to 75% of full municipal allocations by the Water Master.
(b) Requirements for termination. Stage 4 of the Plan may be rescinded when full municipal allocations are restored by the Water Master.
(B) Drought responses stages. The Mayor, or his or her designee, shall monitor water supply and/or demand conditions on a daily basis and in accordance with the triggering criteria set forth in above division (A) of this Plan shall determine that a mild, moderate, severe or critical condition exists and shall implement the following actions upon notice given as set forth in division (D) of this Plan.
(1) Stage 1 - mild water shortage conditions.
(a) Goal. Achieve a voluntary 5% reduction in average daily water demand.
(b) Supply management measures. Reduce flushing of water mains.
(c) Voluntary water use restrictions.
1. Water customers are requested to voluntarily limit the irrigation of landscaped area only between the hours of midnight and 10:00 a.m. and 8:00 p.m. to midnight.
2. Water customers are requested to practice water conservation and to minimize or discontinue water use for non-essential purposes as defined below in division (B)(2)(c)(7) of this Plan.
3. Fund raising car washes at locations other than authorized car wash locations are prohibited.
(2) Stage 2 - moderate water shortage conditions.
(a) Goal. Achieve a 7.5% reduction in average daily water demand.
(b) Supply management measures. Reduce flushing of water mains.
(c) Water use restrictions.
1. Irrigation of landscaped areas with hose-end sprinklers or automatic irrigation systems shall be limited to irrigation of landscaped areas between 8:00 p.m. and 12:00 midnight. However, irrigation of landscaped areas is permitted at any time if it is by means of a hand-held hose, a faucet filled bucket or watering can of five gallons or less or a drip irrigation system.
2. Use of water to wash any motor vehicle, motorbike, boat, trailer, airplane or other vehicle is prohibited except between the hours of 12:00 midnight and 10:00 a.m. and between 8:00 p.m. and 12:00 midnight. Such washing, when allowed, shall be done for quick rinses. Vehicle washing may be done at any time on the immediate premises of a commercial car wash or commercial service station. Further, such washing may be exempted from these regulations if the health, safety, and welfare of the public is contingent upon frequent vehicle cleansing, such as garbage trucks and vehicles used to transport food and perishables.
3. Use of water to fill, refill or add to any indoor or outdoor swimming pools, wading pools or Jacuzzi-type pools is prohibited except between the hours of 12:00 midnight and 10:00 a.m. and between 8:00 p.m. and 12:00 midnight.
4. Operation of any ornamental foundation or pond for aesthetic or scenic purpose is prohibited except where necessary to support aquatic life or where such fountains or ponds are equipped with a re-circulation system.
5. Use of water from hydrants shall be limited to firefighting, related activities or other activities necessary to maintain public health, safety and welfare, except that use of water from designated fire hydrants for construction purpose may be allowed under special permit from the city.
6. Use of water for the irrigation of golf course greens, tees and fairways is prohibited except between the hours 12:00 midnight and 10:00 a.m. and between 8:00 p.m. and 12:00 midnight. However, if the golf course utilizes a water supply other than that provided by the city, the facility shall not be subject to these regulations.
7. The following uses of water are defined as non-essential and are prohibited:
a. Wash down of any sidewalks, walkways, driveways, parking lots, tennis courts or other hard-surfaces areas;
b. Use of water to wash down buildings or structures for purposes other than immediate fire protection;
c. Use of water for dust control;
d. Flushing gutters or permitting water to run or accumulate in any gutter or street;
e. Failure to repair a controllable leak(s) within a reasonable period after having been given notice directing the repair of such leak(s);
f. Car washing prohibited in driveways or at home;
g. Car washing locations that have recycle equipment shall be authorized to wash cars; and
h. Car wash businesses that do not have recycle equipment shall not be permitted to operate.
(3) Stage 3 - severe water shortage conditions.
(a) Goal. Achieve a 10% reduction in average daily water demand.
(b) Supply management measures. Reduce flushing of water mains.
(c) Water use restrictions. All requirements of Stage 2 shall remain in effect during Stage 3 except:
1. Irrigation of landscaped areas shall be limited to watering between the hours of 12:00 midnight and 10:00 a.m and between 8:00 p.m. and 12:00 midnight and shall be by means of hand-held hoses, hand-helds, buckets, drip irrigation or permanently installed automatic sprinkler system only. The use of hose-end sprinklers is prohibited at all times.
2. The watering of golf courses tees is prohibited, unless the golf course utilizes a water supply other than that provided by the city.
3. All restaurants are prohibited from serving water to its patrons except when requested.
(4) Stage 4 - critical water shortage conditions.
(a) Goal. Achieve a 15% reduction in average daily water demand.
(b) Supply management measures.
1. Reduce pressure in distribution system;
2. Discontinue irrigation of public landscaped areas;
3. Reduce flushing of water mains; and
4. Activate surcharge of water rate structure.
(c) Water use restrictions. All requirements of Stage 2 and Stage 3 shall remain in effect during Stage 4 except:
1. Irrigation of landscaped areas shall be limited to watering between the hours of 12:00 midnight and 10:00 a.m. and between 8:00 p.m. and 12:00 midnight and shall be by means of hand-held hoses, hand-held buckets or drip irrigation only. The uses of hose-end sprinklers or permanently installed automatic sprinkler systems are prohibited at all times.
2. Use of water to wash any motor vehicles, motorbike, boat, trailer, airplane or other vehicle not occurring on the premises of a commercial car wash and commercial service stations shall occur only between the hours of 6:00 a.m. and 10:00 a.m. and between 6:00 p.m. and 10:00 p.m.
3. The filling, refilling or adding of water to swimming pools, wading pools and Jacuzzi-type pools is prohibited.
4. Operation of any ornamental fountain or pond for aesthetic or scenic purposes is prohibited except where necessary to support aquatic life or where such fountains or ponds are equipped with a re-circulation system.
(C) Water rationing. In the event that water shortage conditions threaten public health, safety and welfare, the Mayor is hereby authorized to ration water under the following conditions:
(2) Goal. Achieve a water supply to meet absolute minimum requirements for priority use customers and will allocate water for health purposes only.
(3) Supply management measures.
(a) Inform public as to requirements, as soon as possible;
(b) Restrict water use of household purposes: no hand watering;
(c) Establish a maximum use of 1,000 gallons per household resident;
(d) Surcharge over allowable use level; and
(e) All stages of restrictions enforced.
(D) Notice.
(1) Once one of the above triggering criteria has occurred, users will be notified that such triggering criteria has occurred and of the drought response stages (as defined herein) to be taken. The process for notifying users may include any of the following:
(a) Mailing, at least 48 hours prior to the commencement of the required drought response stage, a written notice to each user;
(b) Posting a sign at the entrance to the city;
(c) Posting notices at a public place in the city; and
(d) Dissemination of press releases to the local news media.
(2) Any notice issued shall contain:
(a) The date the drought response stages will begin;
(b) The date the drought response stages will terminate, if known;
(c) A list of drought response stages to be implemented; and
(d) An explanation of penalties for violations of such drought stages.
(Ord. 2011-8, passed 9-26-2011; Ord. 2016-10, passed 10-18-2016; Ord. 2021-11, passed 11-16-2021)