[Added 9-17-2002 by Ord.
No. 33-02]
This article shall be known as the "City of Seward Water Conservation
Plan."
The following words, terms and phrases, when used in this article,
shall have the meanings ascribed to them in this section, except where
the context clearly indicates a different meaning:
Water taken from the Seward public water system.
A declaration by the Mayor that a water shortage exists.
The provisions of this article shall apply to all individuals,
legal entities and their agents who or which use water, as defined
in this article, connected to the City of Seward public water system.
The curtailments and restrictions of water uses provided for
in this article shall be implemented upon a declaration at any time
of a water shortage emergency by the Mayor and shall remain in effect
until such time as the Mayor or City Council shall declare such emergency
to be at an end.
A.
A Stage One Water Watch may take effect if one of the following conditions
exist:
(1)
Major fire requiring extended use of water.
(2)
Major main break or disabling of a major main due to construction.
(3)
Water use for two consecutive days of over 2,100,000 gallons.
(4)
Water level at the monitoring well at the south field indicates
a groundwater level of 63 feet.
(5)
Water level at the monitoring well at the west field indicates
a groundwater level of 73 feet.
B.
Actions available.
(1)
The Mayor or designee requests voluntary reductions in water
use.
(2)
Accelerate public information efforts to teach and encourage
reduced 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 nonessential use.
(5)
Request a reduction in landscape watering by City government.
(6)
Request that no new plantings and seeding be started during
this stage.
(7)
Request no landscape watering between 10:00 a.m. and 7:00 p.m.
(8)
Determine effect on large customers and notify them of impact.
Advise customers of actions being taken within the City of Seward
and solicit implementation of voluntary reduction of water use.
A.
A Stage Two Water Warning may take effect if one of the following
conditions exist:
(1)
Loss of one or more wells due to low water table (drawing air
into pump).
(2)
Water use for three consecutive days of over 2,500,000 gallons.
(3)
Major equipment failure, overhead storage, river crossing, or
loss of well field(s) due to natural or man-made disaster.
(4)
Water
level at the monitoring well at the south field indicates a groundwater
level of 65 feet.
(5)
Water level at the monitoring well at the west field indicates
a groundwater level of 76 feet.
B.
Actions available.
(1)
Landscaping irrigation restrictions, residential and commercial.
(a)
Existing installations. Parcels with odd-numbered addresses are only
permitted to irrigate on Monday, Wednesday and Saturday. Parcels with
even-numbered addresses or no addresses are only permitted to irrigate
on Tuesday, Thursday and Sunday. (Note: No watering on Friday.)
(b)
New installations. 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.
(2)
Essential use restrictions. There shall be no restrictions on
fire-fighting or medical uses. Hydrant flushing shall be only on an
emergency basis.
(3)
Use restrictions for public facilities. Custodians of publicly
owned facilities and large private facilities, including Concordia
University, may submit a water use plan to the Mayor which, while
considering the manpower restraints of the entity, balances the same
against the policies of water conservation such as evaporation avoidance
and spreading out the times and days of irrigation. The Mayor may
approve or reject said plan, or approve the same with modifications.
(4)
Water-based recreation restriction use. Filling is permitted
for new and existing recreational facilities and pools.
C.
Enforcement and penalties. The penalty for violation of any of the
foregoing water restrictions is $100 for a first offense, $200 for
a second offense, and $500 for a third offense. 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 new violation
shall be deemed to have been committed on each day that a violation
occurs.
The Mayor 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 Seward water system.
