(A) The county or its water utility will have primary responsibility for monitoring compliance with this chapter.
(B) The following provisions shall govern the implementation of temporary service interruptions.
(1) In order to effectuate compliance with this chapter, the county is hereby authorized to plan and implement temporary service interruption to all or part of its water supply system, as may be deemed appropriate, when any or all of the following conditions are determined to exist:
(a) The mandated reduction in system-wide water usage has been achieved;
(b) The mandated reduction in system-wide water usage has been achieved, but has failed to have a significant impact in extending limited water supplies; and/or
(c) Temporary service interruptions are necessary in order to further extend limited and/or dwindling water supplies.
(2) In the event it is determined that temporary service interruptions are necessary, the county shall notify its customers through the public media (e.g., newspapers, radio, and television), at least one day prior to the temporary service interruptions, that a planned, temporary service interruption is to be imposed. Such notice shall:
(a) State the day or days when the planned, temporary service interruption will occur;
(b) State the time(s) when such planned, temporary service interruptions will commence and the time(s) such interruption will cease;
(c) State whether the planned, temporary service interruptions are to be imposed on the entire system, or part thereof, and, if only part(s) of the system will experience planned, temporary service interruptions will occur; and
(d) Advise all customers within the areas affected by planned, temporary service interruptions how to treat any water received from the system, for human consumption, during the period(s) of such interruptions and for such additional time as may be necessary until full pressure is restored to the system.
(3) If a planned, temporary service interruption is imposed as authorized by this chapter, the county must provide for the continued delivery of water to health care facilities within the area(s) affected by such interruptions, by means of any adequate, alternative delivery measures that may be necessary.
(4) If a planned, temporary service interruption is implemented, the county must make provisions, by any reasonable means possible, for the continued delivery of such water as may be necessary for the proper operation of sewage collection, treatment, and disposal systems and facilities.
(C) In addition to the assessment of an administrative fine, non-compliance with the water rationing provisions of this chapter will result in the following.
(1) For the first excess use, a warning of possible discontinuation shall be issued to the customer.
(2) For the second or subsequent excess use, service to the customer may be interrupted or shut off for a period not to exceed 48 hours, or, if the customer provides access, a flow restrictor may be installed in the customer’s service line for the duration of the emergency. The cost incurred to interrupt or shut off and reinstate service, or to install and remove a flow restrictor, shall be assessed to the water customer. Before service to an individual may be terminated under this provision, actual notice of the intent to discontinue shall be given, which shall include notice that the customer may appear at a designated time and place, within 24 hours, for an informal hearing to show why service should not be discontinued.
(D) Meter reading schedules are authorized to be altered to assure adequate monitoring of compliance with this chapter.
(E) Any customer or other person aggrieved by a decision or action imposing an administrative fine or other remedy for non-compliance with the requirements of this chapter may proceed in accordance with the following provisions.
(1) The customer or aggrieved party shall file a letter of appeal to the County Manager within ten days of action to rebut the finding of a violation, or provide evidence of circumstances beyond the customer’s control that resulted in the violation.
(2) A record of evidence regarding disputed violations shall be kept, and a written notice of the County Manager’s final decision and action in such cases shall be provided to the customer or aggrieved party.
(Ord. passed - -2007)