The following mandatory water conservation regulations, which shall be applicable to all retail water service customers of the Village are hereby adopted, to be in full force and effect until such time as the City of Springfield determines that the water level of Lake Springfield has sufficiently recovered to no longer warrant mandatory water conservation measures.
A. Definitions:
LANDSCAPE: For purposes of this section the term "landscape" shall include sodded and seeded lawns, gardens, trees, shrubs, and other living plants.
B. Landscape Irrigation Restrictions: The use of water from the Village's water supply for landscape irrigation by retail water service customers is hereby prohibited except for the following:
1. Designated Irrigation Days: Irrigation utilizing individual sprinkler systems for landscape is permitted during the following times:
Street Address | Designated Day | Permitted Hours Of Water Use |
Odd number | Monday, Wednesday, Friday | 12:00 midnight - 8:00 A.M. and 7:00 P.M. - 11:59 P.M. |
Even number | Tuesday, Thursday, Saturday | 12:00 midnight - 8:00 A.M. and 7:00 P.M. - 11:59 P.M. |
A large parcel of property having a single watering system for several even and odd numbered address buildings may be irrigated on Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday only.
Notwithstanding the above, irrigation of lawns, gardens, landscaped areas, trees, shrubs, or other plants is permitted at anytime except on Sundays if:
a. A hand-held hose is used; or
b. A hand-held, faucet-filled bucket of five (5) gallons or less is used; or
c. A drip-irrigation system is used, which is a soaker-type hose that when in use does not result in an aerial dissipation of water.
2. Landscape Permits: Upon issuance of a permit by the Village Clerk the following uses of water shall be permitted, except on Sundays:
a. The watering of new landscape at any hour between twelve o'clock (12:00) midnight to eight o'clock (8:00) A.M. and four o'clock (4:00) P.M. to eight o'clock (8:00) P.M., for no more than twenty one (21) consecutive days. Thereafter, watering is permitted for three (3) days each week on the same schedule as all other retail water service customers. The permit fee shall be one hundred dollars ($100.00). One permit per site shall be allowed. The watering of sod on the initial day of installation of the sod shall be permitted without restriction to hours of the day.
b. The watering of landscape when required for chemical application for no more than three (3) consecutive days during permitted hours of water use. The permit fee shall be twenty five dollars ($25.00). One permit per site shall be allowed.
C. Washing Vehicles: The use of water from the Village's water supply for washing vehicles including automobiles, trucks, trailers, boats, and other types of mobile equipment by retail water service customers is hereby prohibited except for the following:
1. Washing Vehicles On Designated Days: The washing of vehicles and other types of mobile equipment on Saturdays and Sundays; provided that such washing shall be done with a hand-held, faucet-filled bucket or a hand-held hose equipped with a positive shutoff nozzle for quick rinses.
2. Commercial Or Health Exceptions: The use of water is permitted at the following establishments:
a. A commercial car wash.
b. A new or used motor vehicle dealership for the purpose of preparing vehicles for sale.
c. A commercial motor vehicle body repair or paint shop for the purpose of preparing vehicles or pursuant to a customer repair order.
d. Commercial aircraft maintenance not to exceed thirty (30) minutes of water usage for each aircraft.
e. The Illinois Department of Transportation, Division of Aeronautics during maintenance activities.
f. Commercial establishments for washing vehicles or equipment.
3. Fundraisers: An organization may conduct one fundraising car wash event per year for one day with a permit issued by the Village Clerk. No fee will be charged for the permit. The event shall be conducted in such a manner to minimize water used.
D. Other Water Uses:
1. Where possible, and except where protection of the public health and safety require otherwise, sewage effluent will be used to the extent it is available and practical for street sweeping and routine sewer and inlet cleaning.
2. All restaurants shall be requested to serve water to customers only when specifically requested by the customer.
3. Users of water for consolidation of backfill, dust control, resealing parking lots or other nonessential uses associated with the construction shall be requested to use suitable allowances if any so exist.
E. Waste Of Water Prohibited: The following uses of water are defined as "waste" of water and are prohibited:
1. Allowing water to run off to a street, gutter, ditch, or drain during irrigation.
2. Failure to repair a controllable leak within a customer's property.
3. Operation of any ornamental fountain or other structure making similar use of water, except when used in connection with an aquatic landscape installation that supports flora or fauna. The use of treated water to fill, refill or maintain a level of any fountain is prohibited. Aquatic landscapes described above can only be refilled or have water added on designated irrigation days during permitted hours of water use.
F. Penalties:
1. Any retail water service customer who violates any provision of this section regulating the use of water shall be subject to the following penalty:
a. First offense: Fifty dollars ($50.00) per occurrence.
b. Second offense: One hundred dollars ($100.00) per occurrence.
c. Third offense: Five hundred dollars ($500.00) per occurrence and service termination for two (2) days.
Payment of said penalty shall be made to the Village within ten (10) days of receipt of the notice of violation. If no payment is made within ten (10) days then the violator shall be subject to enforcement by ordinance violation proceedings in the Circuit Court of the Seventh Judicial Circuit, Sangamon County, Illinois.
2. Any retail water service customer to the Village who violates the provisions of this section and fails to pay the appropriate penalty within ten (10) days of receipt of the notice of violation shall, upon conviction, be subject to a fine of not less than two hundred dollars ($200.00) nor more than seven hundred fifty dollars ($750.00) per occurrence. (Ord. 2012-9, 8-1-2012)