From time to time, the water supply of the city may be reduced as a result of drought, system breakdowns, or other supply limitations. The City Commission desires to make an equitable allocation of the water as is then available between residential and commercial water users, having in mind at all times physical needs for health and sanitation, and also considering the need for water in the operation of business necessary to the life of the community. At the times of water shortages, the City Commission must make decisions concerning the essentiality of various types of water use with respect to the public welfare and business reasonableness, that is, the relative impact of restrictions on water use on the quality of life in the city. At certain times, voluntary conservation is not appropriate to utilize the available water supply. At those times, as determined by the City Manager and City Commission, economic incentives to curb water use are the only fair and equitable means to ensure that available water is used conservatively. It is the purpose of §§ 54.15 et seq. to provide the means to accomplish the desired objectives.
(1981 Code, § 28-71) (Ord. 644, passed 1-19-1978)
Statutory reference:
Authority of city to regulate and restrict the use of water in order to prevent waste and to conserve the supply of water, see NMSA § 3-53-2