The severity of the water shortages shall be determined primarily by the criteria set out herein. The restrictive measures in effect at each stage are as follows.
(A) Stage I water conservation order (voluntary). In the event a water shortage is deemed to exist, as defined previously herein, the Director shall notify the Town Manager in writing. Upon such notification, the Town Manager shall declare a Stage I (voluntary) water conservation order. After complying with the notice provision contained herein, the following voluntary water restrictions shall be requested.
(1) General water use.
(a) All discretionary uses of water should be reduced to the greatest extent possible.
(b) Wasteful use of water is discouraged.
(c) Use of water to wash patios, sidewalks, driveways, and the like is discouraged.
(d) An automatic shutoff nozzle should be attached to all handheld hoses at all times.
(2) Vehicle washing.
(a) Vehicle washing is not restricted, except that an automatic shutoff nozzle should be attached to the hose at all times. Cars may be washed on any day, at any time, when necessary; however, frequent washing is discouraged.
(b) Fund raising car washes are discouraged, unless conducted at the premises of a commercial car washing facility that recycles its water on site, and only if the water used in the fund raising operation is recycled through that facility’s operations.
(3) Landscape irrigation.
(a) Sprinkler irrigation should be restricted to three days per week, Monday, Thursday, and Saturday, and only between the hours of 7:00 p.m. and 5:00 a.m.
(b) Hand watering of trees, shrubs, and flower and vegetable gardens is allowed as needed, except between the hours of 9:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. An automatic shutoff nozzle should be used on the watering source.
(c) The planting of new shrubs, trees, and ornamentals is discouraged.
(4) Restaurants. Restaurants should serve water only upon request.
(B) Stage II water shortage order (mandatory). In the event the previous voluntary restrictions are determined to be insufficient to effectuate the necessary reductions in water usage, the Director shall so notify the Town Manager in writing. Upon such notification, the Town Manager shall declare a Stage II water shortage (mandatory) to exist. Upon such declaration, residential persons shall reduce consumption to any degree feasible with a goal of reduction of at least 10% to 25% of their average usage. After complying with the notice provision contained herein, the following water restrictions shall be imposed. In addition to the voluntary restrictions encouraged in a Stage I order, it shall be unlawful for those served by a public or private water or well system to:
(1) Use water for any unnecessary purpose or to intentionally waste water;
(2) Water lawn, grass, shrubbery, trees, or flower and vegetable gardens, except by handheld container or hose with an automatic shutoff nozzle, and only between the hours of 7:00 p.m. and 5:00 a.m. Sprinkler irrigation systems are restricted to operating three days a week; Monday, Thursday, and Saturday, and only between the hours of 7:00 p.m. and 5:00 a.m. the following morning; provided, however, that a person regularly engaged in the sale of plants shall be permitted to use water, by any method at any time, for irrigation of their commercial stock in trade;
(3) Operate or introduce water into any non-recirculating ornamental fountain, pool, pond, or other structure making similar use of water;
(4) Serve drinking water in restaurants, cafeterias, or other food establishments, except as requested;
(5) Wash down outside areas, such as streets, driveways, service station aprons, parking lots, office buildings, exteriors of existing or newly constructed homes or apartments, sidewalks, or patios, or to use water for similar purposes; provided, however, hand washing of exterior surfaces of a building for the purpose of preparing them for painting shall be permitted; provided, further, licensed commercial pressure washers shall be permitted to operate;
(6) Wash automobiles, trucks, trailers, boats, airplanes, or any other type of mobile equipment, except with the use of a handheld hose equipped with an automatic shutoff nozzle; provided, however, that any commercial wash facility shall be permitted to use water for such purposes; and
(7) All non-residential persons, and all persons with swimming and wading pools and grass or clay tennis courts, shall reduce consumption to any degree feasible, with a goal of a reduction of at least 10% to 25% of their usual usage.
(C) Stage III water shortage order (mandatory). In the event previous voluntary and mandatory restrictions are determined to be insufficient to effectuate the necessary reductions in water usage, the Director shall so notify the Town Manager in writing. Upon such notification, the City Manager shall declare a Stage III water crisis to exist, and residential customers shall continue to reduce consumption to any degree feasible with a goal of a reduction of at least 50% of their average usage. After complying with the notice provision contained herein, under Stages I and II, the following mandatory water restrictions shall be imposed. It shall be unlawful to:
(1) Use water outside a structure for any use other than emergencies involving fire, or as needed by the Public Works/Utilities Department to maintain the utility systems, except that flowers, plants, and shrubs may be watered from a watering can or other container not exceeding three gallons in capacity with used wash water from inside the structure;
(2) Operate an evaporative air conditioning unit that recycles water, except during the operating hours of the business;
(3) Wash any vehicle for any purpose, whether inside or outside a structure, except those parts of vehicles may be washed where required by federal, state, or local laws, or for health or safety;
(4) Use water for dust control or compaction;
(5) Fill, refill, or top off any single-family residential swimming or wading pool, or water any grass;
(6) Serve food or beverages in restaurants, cafeterias, and other commercial food establishments to customers using anything other than disposable plates, saucers, cups, eating utensils, napkins, and tablecloths;
(7) Exceed the following water usage mandate. All non-residential persons shall reduce their water usage with a goal reduction of at least 50% of their average usage; and
(8) Make any new service connections to the town’s water system, except for public and other schools satisfying the compulsory education requirements of the laws of the state, 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.
(Prior Code, § 5-1011) Penalty, see § 51.99