(a)
Drought and other uncontrollable circumstances can disrupt the normal
availability of community or utility water supplies. Even though the
city may have adequate water supply, the supply can become contaminated,
or a disaster can destroy the supply. During drought periods, consumer
demand is typically higher than under normal conditions. Some older
systems, or systems serving rapidly growing areas, may not have the
capacity to meet greater than normal demands without system failure
or unwanted consequences. System treatment, storage, or distribution
failures can also present the city with an emergency demand management
situation.
(b)
It is important to distinguish drought contingency planning from
water conservation planning. While water conservation involves implementing
permanent water use efficiency or reuse practices, drought contingency
plans establish temporary methods or techniques designed to be used
only as long as the emergency exists.
(c)
An effective drought contingency plan should include the following
six elements:
(Ordinance adopted 4/20/1993,
ex. A, art. III, sec. A)
The city currently obtains potable water from groundwater sources.
Since all of the area’s groundwater is in a stressed condition,
emergency conditions must be anticipated to mitigate the effects of
prolonged drought. The drought contingency plan is based on groundwater
supplies and shall be altered as potable water sources change.
(Ordinance adopted 4/20/1993,
ex. A, art. III, sec. B)
The city will initiate drought contingency measures upon occurrence
of the following conditions:
(1)
Mild drought.
Mild drought occurs when:
(A)
Average daily water consumption reaches 90% of production capacity.
(B)
Consumption (90%) has existed for a period of three days.
(C)
Weather conditions are to be considered in drought classification
determination. Predicted long cold or dry periods are to be considered
in impact analysis.
(D)
Loss of production in one well.
(2)
Moderate drought.
Moderate drought conditions are reached
when:
(A)
Average daily water consumption reaches 100% of rated production
capacity for a three-day period.
(B)
Weather conditions indicate mild drought will exist five days or
more.
(C)
One ground storage tank or one clear well is taken out of service
during a mild drought period.
(D)
Storage capacity (water level) is not being maintained during a period
of 100% rated production period.
(E)
Existence of any one listed condition for a duration of 36 hours.
(F)
Loss of production in two wells.
(3)
Severe drought.
Severe drought classification is reached
when:
(A)
Average daily water consumption reaches 110% of production capacity.
(B)
Average daily water consumption will not enable storage levels to
be maintained.
(C)
System demand exceeds available high service pump capacity.
(D)
Any two conditions listed in the moderate drought classification
occur at the same time for a 24-hour period.
(E)
The water system is contaminated either accidentally or intentionally.
(F)
The water system fails from acts of God (tornados, hurricanes, or
man). The severe condition is reached immediately upon detection.
(Ordinance adopted 4/20/1993,
ex. A, art. III, sec. C)
The following actions shall be taken by the city when trigger
conditions are reached:
(1)
Mild conditions.
(A)
Inform the public through the news media that a trigger condition
has been reached, and that they should look for ways to voluntarily
reduce water use. Specific steps which can be taken will be provided
through the news media.
(B)
Notify major commercial water users of the situation and request
voluntary water use reductions.
(C)
Publicize the voluntary lawn watering schedule.
(D)
During winter months, request water users to insulate pipes rather
than running water to prevent freezing.
(2)
Moderate conditions.
(A)
Continue implementing all relevant actions in the preceding phase.
(B)
Car washing, window washing and pavement washing are prohibited except
when a bucket is used.
(D)
The following mandatory lawn watering schedule shall be implemented:
Customers with even-numbered street addresses may water on odd-numbered
days of the month. Customers with odd-numbered street addresses may
water on even days of the month. Watering shall occur only between
the hours of 6-10 a.m. and 8-10 p.m.
(E)
Waste of water shall be prohibited. Water waste is defined as:
(i)
Permitting water from landscape irrigation to escape into gutters,
ditches, streets, sidewalks, and other surface drains.
(ii)
Failure to promptly repair a controllable leak due to defective
plumbing after it is discovered.
(iii)
Recreational use of faucets, hoses, and hydrants.
(iv)
Other obviously wasteful uses.
(F)
Water uses designated as exemptions to the above requirements, but
not limited to the following list, are:
(i)
Health and safety uses of water.
(ii)
Commercial businesses that use water to maintain (but not expand)
their primary business practices (e.g., commercial car and truck washes,
plant nurseries, turf growers, water haulers, etc.).
(iii)
Public gardens and arboretums of national, state, or regional
significance where necessary to preserve specimens.
(iv)
Watering at a minimum rate necessary to maintain revegetation
or landscape planting required pursuant to law or regulation.
(3)
Severe conditions.
(A)
Continue all relevant actions defined in the preceding phase.
(B)
Ban all outdoor water use.
(C)
Set limits on water use by both commercial and residential users.
(D)
Establish monetary fines for exceeding water use limits or violation
of the drought contingency plan. Notify all customers of penalties.
(Ordinance adopted 4/20/1993,
ex. A, art. III, sec. D)
(a)
As a component of the information/education section in the water
conservation plan, the purpose and effect of the drought contingency
plan will be communicated to the public through articles in the Tribune
Progress supplemented by pamphlets distributed at the same time.
(b)
When trigger conditions appear to be approaching, the public will
be notified through publication of articles in the Tribune Progress,
with information on water conservation methods.
(c)
When trigger conditions have passed, the Tribune Progress will publish
notification that the drought contingency measures are abated for
that condition, and if applicable will outline measures necessary
for the reduced condition.
(d)
Throughout the period of a trigger condition, regular articles will
appear to explain and educate the public on the purpose, cause, and
methods of conservation for that condition.
(Ordinance adopted 4/20/1993,
ex. A, art. III, sec. E)
Initiation procedures employed at any period are described in
this plan. Each condition will be met with corresponding action by
the city secretary and the city secretary will effect curtailment,
give notice, publicize and follow with implementation of curtailment.
(Ordinance adopted 4/20/1993,
ex. A, art. III, sec. F)
(a)
Termination of each drought condition will begin when that specific
condition has been improved to the extent that an upgraded condition
can be declared by the city secretary. This process will be employed
until full service can be provided. System priority will be considered
in return to upgraded condition, returning hospitals, schools, etc.,
in priority order.
(b)
Termination will be initiated by the city secretary by giving notice,
etc., as was given to enact drought curtailment.
(Ordinance adopted 4/20/1993,
ex. A, art. III, sec. G)
The city secretary can add, alter, and amend rules, regulations
and implementation as needed/desired, and shall advise the city council
of such amendments at its next regular or called meeting.
(Ordinance adopted 4/20/1993,
ex. A, art. III, sec. H)
Adoption of this plan, drought contingency ordinance, and modification
of the plumbing code ordinance will enable the city to implement and
carry out enforcement of enacted ordinances to make the plan effective
and workable.
(Ordinance adopted 4/20/1993,
ex. A, art. III, sec. I)
