(A) The City Council of the city is vested with the authority to invoke the various “stages” of action described in this chapter, which serves as the city’s water shortage contingency plan, based upon the recommendation of the Director of Public Works.
(B) The city has developed a six stage rationing plan to invoke during declared water shortages. The action stages trigger levels have been developed to implement the water shortage contingency plan. The rationing plan includes voluntary and mandatory rationing, depending on the causes, severity, and anticipated duration of the water supply shortage. Stages will be implemented when circumstances warrant as determined by the Director of Public Works, City Manager and the City Council, or as the state mandates water use restrictions.
(C) The Director of Public Works will recommend an appropriate action stage. All restrictions under each applicable action stage will be implemented immediately upon declaration of such stage. Lifting of an emergency action stage and resumption to the normal operating stage will be determined by the City Council, based upon the recommendation of the Director of Public Works and based on current conditions affecting the water supply. The rationing stages are described in detail below.
(1) Stage I - Conservation measures (up to 10% supply reduction).
(a) This is the normal operating stage for the water system. The following practices shall be prohibited:
1. Hosing off sidewalks, driveways, and other hardscapes;
2. Washing automobiles with hoses not equipped with a shut-off nozzle;
3. Using non-recirculated water in a fountain or other decorative water feature;
4. Watering lawns in a manner that causes runoff, or within 48 hours after measurable precipitation; and
5. Irrigating ornamental turf on public street medians.
(b) The city may initiate a water conservation program to provide public information on ways to reduce water use. Customers are encouraged to reduce water usage by taking the following voluntary water conservation measures:
1. Refrain from landscape watering except between the hours of 9:00 pm until 8:00 am.
2. Equip any hose with a shutoff nozzle.
3. Promptly repair all leaks in plumbing fixtures, water lines, and sprinkler systems.
(2) Stage II - Moderate water shortage (up to 20% supply reduction). Mandatory implementation of conservation measures. Conservation measures in Stage I become mandatory. Includes all Stage I measures, plus the following:
(a) Equip new commercial car washes with a water recycling system.
(b) All new construction must install low flow shower heads, low flush toilets, and faucet aerators.
(c) Construction projects and industrial use: Water service for construction projects and industrial use shall be addressed on a case-by-case basis.
(d) Customers will be notified via news media and other methods of this stage of water shortage emergency and implementation of mandatory conservation measures.
(3) Stage III - Serious water shortage (up to 30% supply reduction). Mandatory conservation. Includes all of the Stage II measures plus the following:
(a) Landscape watering by any means including automatic irrigation systems, hose-end sprinklers, drip irrigation, hand-held hose, or bucket is prohibited except on the following days between the hours of 9:00 p.m. until 8:00 a.m.
1. Customers whose street addresses end with an odd number may water only on Wednesday and Sunday and only within the permitted time period.
2. Customers whose addresses end with an even number may water only on Tuesday and Saturday and only within the permitted time period.
(b) Operation of ornamental fountains, waterfalls, ponds or lakes is prohibited without a water recycling system. An ornamental or decorative water feature is defined as a design element where artificially supplied open water performs solely an aesthetic function. Ornamental water features do not include recreational water features, such as swimming pools, spas, and water parks.
(c) Operators of restaurants must provide on each table a notice of water emergency and refrain from serving drinking water except upon specific request of a customer.
(d) Operators of hotels and motels must provide in each room a notice of water emergency and the option to choosing not to have towels and linens laundered daily.
(e) Public facilities: Water service to parks, cemeteries and other public facilities shall comply with the restrictions set forth in this section.
(f) Customers will be notified via news media and other methods of this stage of water shortage emergency and implementation of mandatory conservation measures.
(4) Stage IV - Severe water shortage (up to 40% supply reduction). Mandatory reduction. Includes all Stage III measures plus the following:
(a) City staff will make every attempt to keep the industrial users informed of the status of a water emergency prior to the declaration of a Stage IV water emergency so they can prepare for a possible shutdown of production.
(b) The following potable water uses will be prohibited for all water users:
1. Landscape irrigation or watering of lawns or gardens.
2. Washing of cars, boats, trailers or other vehicles other than at commercial facilities with water recycling.
3. Washing down of driveways, sidewalks, buildings, windows, or any outdoor surface.
4. Filling of swimming pools, spas, or hot tubs.
5. Serving of drinking water at restaurants unless requested.
6. Filling or operating ornamental fountains, waterfalls, ponds, or lakes.
7. Sewer system maintenance, fire protection training, or flushing of hydrants.
8. Street cleaning.
9. Use of hydrant meters for construction purposes.
(c) Customers will be notified via news media and other methods of this stage of water shortage emergency. Industrial users will be notified specifically via telephone and will be asked to voluntarily shutdown production during a Stage IV water emergency.
(5) Stage V - Critical water shortage (up to 50% supply reduction). Mandatory reduction. Includes all Stage IV measures plus the following:
(a) No new residential development shall be permitted unless the developer has submitted a complete building permit application to the city prior to the Stage V declaration. Building permit applications may proceed with a deferral of landscape installation until the water shortage level has been lifted.
(b) No new landscape shall be installed. Exceptions are replacing landscaping with drought tolerant landscape material.
(c) Customers will be notified via news media and other methods of this stage of water shortage emergency and water use restrictions.
(5) Stage VI - Disaster shortage/rationing (greater than 50% supply reduction). Major catastrophe, including flooding, major fire emergencies, earthquakes, regional power outages, and emergencies other than water shortage, resulting in major water contamination of the city water system necessitating rationing. Priorities for all water use will be for human consumption, sanitation, and fire protection.
(a) All water users will be limited to amounts required for human consumption, sanitation, and fire protection. No water will be available for nonessential use or for commercial or industrial processes. Exceptions are livestock and food production.
(b) Customers will be notified via news media and other methods of this stage of water shortage emergency and water use restrictions.
(Ord. 956, passed 1-4-2005; Am. Ord. 958, passed 3-1-2005; Am. Ord. 961, passed 8-16-2005; Am. Ord. 966, passed 2-7-2006; Am. Ord. 1037, passed 5-19-2015; Am. Ord. 1067, passed 7-5-2022)