For the purpose of this subchapter, the following definitions shall apply unless the context clearly indicates or requires a different meaning.
ADVISORY. Conditions exist which indicate the potential for serious water supply shortages.
ALERT. Raw water supplies are consistently below seasonal averages and, if they continue to decline, may not be adequate to meet normal needs.
ALLOTMENT. The maximum quantity of water allowed for each customer over any applicable period as established in the water rationing provisions of this subchapter.
CUSTOMER. Any person using water for any purpose from the city’s water distribution system and for which either a regular charge is made or, in the case of bulk sales, a cash charge is made at the site of delivery.
EMERGENCY. Water supplies are below the level necessary to meet normal needs and that serious shortages exist in the area.
EXCESS USE. The usage of water by a water customer in excess of the water allotment provided under the water rationing provisions of this subchapter for that customer, over any applicable period.
NON-RESIDENTIAL CUSTOMER. Commercial, industrial, institutional, public and all other such users, with the exception of hospitals and health care facilities.
RATIONING. Procedures established to provide for the equitable distribution of critically-limited water supplies, in order to balance demand and limited available supplies and to assure that sufficient water is available to preserve public health and safety.
RESIDENTIAL CUSTOMER. Any customer who receives water service for a single or multi- family dwelling unit. The term RESIDENTIAL CUSTOMER does not include educational or other institutions, hotels, motels or similar commercial establishments.
SERVICE INTERRUPTION. The temporary suspension of water supply, or reduction of pressure below that required for adequate supply, to any customer, portion of a water supply or entire system.
WASTE OF WATER. Includes, but is not limited to:
(1) Permitting water to escape down a gutter, ditch or other surface drain; or
(2) Failure to repair a controllable leak of water due to defective plumbing.
WASTEWATER. Water which has been previously used for industrial, municipal, domestic or other purpose, and has not been returned to the surface or ground water source.
WATER SUPPLIES. Water available to the city for treatment by virtue of its water rights or withdrawal permit or any treated water introduced by the city into its water distribution system, including water offered for sale.
WATER USE CLASSES. Established as follows.
(1) ESSENTIAL WATER USES (CLASS 1).
(a) Domestic use: water necessary to sustain human life and the lives of domestic pets, and to maintain minimum standards of hygiene and sanitation;
(b) Health care facilities: patient care and rehabilitation;
(c) Public use:
1. Firefighting; and
2. Health and public protection purposes, if specifically approved by health officials and the City Council.
(d) Water hauling: sales for domestic use where not reasonably available elsewhere.
(2) SOCIALLY OR ECONOMICALLY IMPORTANT WATER USES (CLASS 2).
(a) Domestic: personal, in-house water use including kitchen, bathroom and laundry;
(b) Commercial and civic use:
1. Commercial car and truck washes;
2. Laundromats;
3. Restaurants, clubs and eating places; and
4. Schools, churches, motels/hotels and similar commercial establishments.
(c) Outdoor non-commercial watering:
1. Minimal watering of vegetable gardens; and
2. Minimal watering of trees where necessary for their survival.
(d) Outdoor commercial or public watering (using conservation methods and when other sources of water are not available or feasible to use):
1. Agricultural irrigation for the production of food and fiber or the maintenance of livestock;
2. Watering by nurseries at a minimum level necessary to maintain stock;
3. Watering by arboretums and public gardens of national, state, regional or community;
4. Significance where necessary to preserve specimens;
5. Watering where necessary to establish or maintain revegetation or landscape plantings required pursuant to law or regulation; and
6. Minimal watering of golf course greens.
(e) Recreational:
1. Operation of municipal pools;
2. Operation of pools on the campuses of Asbury College and Asbury Theological Seminary;
3. Operation of residential pools which serve more than 25 dwelling units; and
4. Operation of pools used by health care facilities for patient care and rehabilitation.
(f) Air conditioning:
1. Refilling for startup at the beginning of the cooling season;
2. Makeup of water during the cooling season; and
3. Refilling specifically approved by health officials and the City Council, where the system has been drained for health protection or repair purposes.
(3) NON-ESSENTIAL WATER USES (CLASS 3).
(a) Public use:
1. Use of fire hydrants (excluding Class 1 and 2 uses), including use of sprinkler caps, testing fire apparatus and Fire Department drills;
2. Flushing of sewers and hydrants, except as needed to ensure public health and safety as approved by health officials and the City Council.
(b) Commercial and civic use:
1. Serving water in restaurants, clubs or eating places, except by customer request;
2. Failure to repair a controllable leak; and
3. Increasing water levels in scenic and recreational ponds and lakes (such as the tournament ponds at the Sportsman’s League on Handy’s Bend Road), except as necessary to support fish and wildlife.
(c) Ornamental purposes: fountains, reflecting pools and artificial waterfalls;
(d) Outdoor non-commercial watering:
1. Use of water for dirt control or compaction;
2. Watering of annual or non-woody plants other than vegetable gardens;
3. Watering of lawns, parks, golf courses (except greens), playing fields and other recreational areas;
4. Washing sidewalks, walkways, driveways, parking lots, tennis courts or other hard-surface areas;
5. Washing down buildings or structures for purposes other than immediate fire protection;
6. Flushing gutters or permitting water to run or accumulate in any gutter or street; and
7. Washing of motor and other vehicles (automobiles, trucks, boats and trailers and the like).
(e) Outdoor commercial or public watering:
1. Expanding nursery facilities, placing new irrigated agricultural land in production, or planting of landscaping, except when required by a site design review process;
2. Use of water for dirt control or compaction;
3. Watering of lawns, parks, golf courses (except greens), playing fields and other recreational areas;
4. Washing sidewalks, walkways, driveways, parking lots, tennis courts or other hard-surface areas;
5. Washing down buildings or structures for purposes other than immediate fire protection; and
6. Flushing gutters or permitting water to run or accumulate in any gutter or street.
(f) Recreational: all other uses, except those specified in Class 2; and
(g) Air conditioning: refilling cooling towers after draining.
(Ord. 479-98, passed 11-2-1998)