(A) Title. This section shall be known as the “City of Schuyler Water Conservation Plan.”
(B) Definitions. For the purpose of this section, the following definitions shall apply unless the context clearly indicates or requires a different meaning.
WATER. Water taken from the City of Schuyler municipal water system.
WATER SHORTAGE EMERGENCY. A declaration by the Mayor of the City of Schuyler that a water shortage exists.
(C) Applicability. The provisions of this section shall apply to all individuals, legal entities, and their agents who use water as defined in this section connected to the City of Schuyler municipal water system. The curtailments and restrictions of water uses provided for by this section shall be implemented upon a written declaration at the time of a water shortage emergency by the Mayor, and shall remain in effect until the time as the water shortage emergency declaration is terminated by the Mayor, or City Council. The Mayor and Council shall act with the advice of the Utilities Superintendent.
(D) Stage One Water Watch. The Stage One Water Watch may take effect if one of the following conditions exist:
(1) A major fire requiring extended use of water;
(2) A major water main break or the disabling of a major water main due to construction; or
(3) The use of water usage for two consecutive days of over 1,600,000 gallons per day.
(E) Stage Two Water Warning. A Stage Two Water Warning may take effect if one or more of the following conditions exist:
(1) Loss of water wells due to low water table (drawing air into the pump);
(2) Water use for three consecutive days of over 1, 900,000 per day; and/or
(3) Major equipment failure, overhead storage, or loss of one of our wells due to natural or human-made disaster.
(F) Stage One Water Watch; actions available.
(1) The Mayor or designee requests voluntary reductions in water use;
(2) Accelerate public information efforts to teach and encourage reduction in water use;
(3) Notify major water users and work with them to achieve voluntary water use reduction;
(4) Prohibit city government use of water for street washing, vehicle washing, and all other non-essential uses;
(5) Request a reduction in landscape watering by city government;
(6) Request that no new plantings or new seedlings be started during this stage;
(7) Request no landscape watering between 10:00 a.m. and 7:00 p.m.; and
(8) Determine the effects on large customers and notify them of the impact. Advise customers of actions taken within the City of Schuyler and solicit implementation of voluntary reduction of water use.
(G) Stage Two Water Warning; actions available.
(1) Landscaping water restrictions will be implemented. Parcels with odd-numbered addresses will be permitted to irrigate on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Saturdays only. Parcels with even-numbered addresses, or no addresses, will be permitted to irrigate only on Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Sundays. There will be no watering on Fridays.
(2) Landscaping installations on residential or commercial parcels that have been in place for 30 days or less shall not be subject to the three-day a week limitation.
(3) There shall be no restrictions on firefighting or medical uses. Hydrant flushing shall be done only on an emergency basis.
(4) Publicly owned facilities and large private facilities may submit a water use plan to the Utility Superintendent, that while considering the manpower restraints on the entity, balances the same against the policies of water conservation such as evaporation avoidance and spreading out the times of irrigation. The Utility Superintendent may approve or reject the plan, or approve the same with modifications.
(5) Filling is permitted for new and existing recreational facilities and pools only with the permission of the Utility Superintendent.
(6) The penalty for the violation of any of the foregoing water restrictions shall be $100 for the first offense; $200 for a second offense; and $500 for the third and subsequent offenses. In addition, the city may install a water flow restrictor in the case of two or more offenses, or may disconnect the violator from the city water system. A violation shall be deemed to be committed for each day the violation occurs.
(H) Exceptions to this section. The Mayor, with the advice of the Utilities Superintendent, shall have the authority to permit a reasonable use of water in any case necessary to maintain adequate health and sanitation standards, or when needed to perform maintenance and repair of the City of Schuyler’s water system.
(I) Violations. Any person violating this section shall be punished in accordance with the provisions of § 52.99.
(Ord. 2005-3, passed 2-15-2005) Penalty, see § 52.99