The city hereby adopts a water conservation, drought contingency and emergency water management plan, (the “plan”), as contained herein.
(Ordinance 006-2015 adopted 2/17/15)
Any person found guilty of violating any of the provisions of this article shall be fined in accordance with the general penalty provision found in section 1.01.009, and each and every violation of the various provisions of this article shall constitute a separate offense, as shall each day that violation continues.
(Ordinance 006-2015 adopted 2/17/15)
(a)
In order to conserve the available water supply and protect the integrity of water supply facilities, with particular regard for domestic water use, sanitation, and fire protection, and to protect and preserve public health, welfare, and safety and minimize the adverse impacts of water supply shortage or other water supply emergency conditions, the city hereby adopts the following regulations and restrictions on the delivery and consumption of water.
(b)
Water uses regulated or prohibited under this water conservation, drought contingency and emergency water management plan (the “plan”) are considered to be nonessential and continuation of such uses during times of water shortage or other emergency water supply condition are deemed to constitute a waste of water which subjects the offender(s) to penalties as defined in division 3 of this article.
(Ordinance 006-2015 adopted 2/17/15)
(a)
The city will periodically provide the public with information about the plan, including information about the conditions under which each stage of the plan is to be initiated or terminated and the measures to be implemented in each stage. This information will be provided by the director through ongoing programs designed to reach a wide variety of customers. These ongoing programs include public outreach to schools, civic groups, and other adult and child groups. The director will distribute conservation and drought response brochures, and provide them to the general public. The city website will be used to educate the public on conservation, drought response, as well as other topics affecting water use practices.
(b)
At any time this plan is initiated or terminated, the director or his/her designee shall notify the public by means of publication in a newspaper of general circulation, publication on the city’s website, signs posted in public places, and take-home fliers at schools. Additionally, the director or his/her designee shall directly notify the mayor and members of the city council, the city administrator, the fire chief, the police chief, major water users, and any critical water users (i.e. hospitals).
(Ordinance 006-2015 adopted 2/17/15)
The service area of the city is located within region C water planning group. A copy of the plan has been submitted to the region C group. Because a portion of the water supply is provided by Texas Regional Water District (“TRWD”), a copy of the plan has been provided to them as well.
(Ordinance 006-2015 adopted 2/17/15)
The director, or his/her designee is hereby authorized and directed to implement the applicable provisions of this plan upon determination that such implementation is necessary to protect public health, safety, and welfare. The city administrator or his/her designee, shall have the authority to initiate or terminate drought or other water supply emergency response measures as described in this plan.
(Ordinance 006-2015 adopted 2/17/15)
(a)
The provisions of this plan shall apply to all persons, customers, and property utilizing water provided by the city. The terms “person” and “customer” as used in the plan include individuals, corporations, partnerships, associations, and all other legal entities. The plan does not apply to locations using treated wastewater effluent, private water wells or possessing their own water rights; however, any pond, impoundment, body of water, or other water source that is supplemented, or has the ability to supplement supply, with potable water shall adhere to the provisions of this plan.
(b)
The plan may be applied to the entire city or geographic portions of the city as necessary. If the plan is applied only to a limited sector, the boundaries will be defined where possible in terms of roadways, creeks and other easily distinguishable features, such as city limits.
(Ordinance 006-2015 adopted 2/17/15)
For the purposes of this plan, the following definitions shall apply:
Water use for ornamental or decorative purposes such as fountains, reflecting pools, and water gardens.
Water produced by a source other than a water treatment plant and is not considered potable. These sources can include, but are not limited to: reclaimed/recycled water, collected rainwater, collected grey water, private well water.
A vertebrate organism dependent upon an aquatic environment to sustain its life.
A sports playing field, the essential feature of which is turf grass, used primarily for organized sports for schools, professional sports, or sanctioned league play.
A site specific system of delivering water generally for landscaping via a system of pipes or other conduits installed below ground that automatically cycles water use through water emitters to a preset program, whether on a designated timer or through manual operation.
Water use which is integral to the operations of commercial and nonprofit establishments and governmental entities, such as retail establishments, hotels and motels, restaurants, and office buildings.
Those practices, techniques, and technologies that reduce the consumption of water, reduce the loss or waste of water, improve the efficiency in the use of water or increase the recycling and reuse of water so that a supply is conserved and made available for future or alternative uses.
Any person, company, or organization using water supplied by the city.
The director of public works of the city or his/her duly authorized designee responsible for city’s water.
Water use for personal needs or for household or sanitary purposes such as drinking, bathing, heating, cooking, sanitation, or for cleaning a residence, business, industry, or institution.
An irrigation system (drip, porous pipe, etc.) that applies water at a predetermined controlled low-flow levels directly to the roots of the plant.
Generally a lack of adequate water to supply needs or replenish supplies used.
A strategy or combination of strategies for temporary supply management and demand management responses to temporary or potentially recurring water supply shortages and other water supply emergencies.
An artificially created jet, stream or flow of water, a structure, often decorative, from which a jet, stream or flow of water issues.
An irrigated and landscaped playing area made up of greens, tees, fairways, roughs and related areas used for the playing of golf.
The application of water for irrigation purposes through a handheld watering hose, watering can or bucket.
A hose physically held by one person, fitted with a manual or automatic shutoff nozzle.
A device through which water flows from a hose to a sprinkler to water any lawn or landscape.
To spray, water, or wash with a water hose.
The use of water for or in connection with commercial or industrial activities, including but not limited to, manufacturing, bottling, brewing, food processing, scientific research and technology, recycling, production of concrete, asphalt, and cement, commercial uses of water for tourism, entertainment, and hotel or motel lodging, generation of power other than hydroelectric and other business activities.
System of fixed pipes and water emitters that apply water to landscape plants turf grass, including, but not limited to, in-ground and permanent irrigation systems.
An artificially created body of fresh or salt water.
Water used for the irrigation and maintenance of landscaped areas, whether publicly or privately owned, including residential and commercial lawns, gardens, golf courses, parks, and rights-of-way, medians and entryways.
Water uses that are neither essential nor required for the protection of public, health, safety, and welfare, including:
Irrigation of landscape areas, including parks, athletic fields, and golf courses, except otherwise provided under this plan;
Use of water to wash any motor vehicle, motorbike, boat, trailer, airplane or other vehicle; except where required by law for safety and sanitary purposes;
Use of water to wash down any sidewalks, walkways, driveways, parking lots, tennis courts, or other hard-surfaced areas; except to alleviate a public health and safety issue;
Use of water to wash down buildings or structures for purposes other than the immediate fire protection, or other uses provided under this plan;
Flushing gutters or permitting water to run or accumulate in any gutter or street;
Use of water to fill, refill, or add to any indoor or outdoor swimming pools or Jacuzzi type pools, except to maintain safe operating levels;
Use of water in a fountain or pond for aesthetic or scenic purposes except when necessary to support aquatic life;
Failure to repair a controllable leak(s) within a reasonable period after having been given formal notice directing the repair of such leak(s); and
Use of water from hydrants for construction purposes or any other purposes other than firefighting or protection of public water supplies.
A nonresidential or multifamily tract of land, other than a golf course, maintained by a city, private organization, or individual, as a place of beauty or public recreation and available for use to the general public.
A machine that uses water or a water-based product applied at high pressure to clean impervious surfaces.
A machine that uses water or water-based product applied at 1500 pounds per square inch (PSI) or greater.
The amount of water that can be used.
Municipal wastewater effluent that is given additional treatment and distributed for reuse in certain applications. Also referred to as recycled water.
Limit how and when water may be used.
A flexible hose that is designed to slowly emit water across the entire length and connect directly to a flexible hose or spigot. Does not include hose that by design or use sends fine spray in the air. It is not considered drip irrigation.
An area for water play that has no standing water. Typically, they utilize various spray nozzles which spray water in multiple directions.
Any structure, basin, chamber, or tank including hot tubs, containing an artificial body of water for swimming, diving, or recreational bathing, and having a depth of two (2) feet or more at any point.
Any noncommercial vegetable garden planted primarily for household use; “noncommercial” includes incidental direct selling of produce from such a vegetable garden to the public.
Water taken from any public water supply or distribution system within the boundaries of the city, potable or nonpotable, and means either raw or potable water.
Water that has been, or is, obtained from the ground by digging, boring, or drilling to access an underground aquifer.
(Ordinance 006-2015 adopted 2/17/15)
(a)
Monitoring.
All relevant components of the city water system will be monitored to ensure timely response to water situations. The TRWD will monitor water supply and raw water delivery trends and potential system constraints. The director will monitor supply, treatment and distribution system trends and potential constraints. Should trends show that any system is approaching trigger levels, more detailed monitoring will be implemented. At a minimum, during noncritical water supply periods, the monitoring and trending will take place monthly. During critical water supply periods the monitoring and trending will take place at least weekly, and may be monitored even more frequently.
(b)
Initiation of drought response/emergency water management stage.
When emergency or trigger conditions occur, the director or his/her designee shall make recommendations to the city administrator of the appropriate stage of the plan to order. The city administrator shall have the authority to initiate or terminate the appropriate drought response or water emergency stage. Notification of the public will occur as set forth in section 13.07.004(b) above. Stages imposed by TRWD or the City of Fort Worth Water Department action must be initiated by the city.
(c)
Factors in decision.
Meeting or exceeding one or more trigger conditions will be sufficient cause to initiate a corresponding plan stage. The director or his designee may recommend that a stage not be initiated under these circumstances. Factors which may influence the recommendation and the city administrator’s decision include, but are not limited to, the time of the year, weather conditions, anticipation of replenished water supplies, or anticipation that facilities will be placed on-line to serve demand.
(d)
Notification to TCEQ.
The city will notify the executive director of the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) within 5 business days of the implementation of any mandatory provisions of the emergency water management plan.
(e)
Termination of drought response.
The city administrator or his/her designee may order the termination of a drought response or water emergency stage when the conditions for termination are met or at their discretion. Termination of the drought measure will be announced and the public notified as set forth in subsection (b) above when the trigger conditions that initiated the drought measures have subsided, and an emergency situation no longer exists. If any mandatory provisions of the water conservation, drought contingency and emergency water management plan that have been activated are terminated, the city will notify the executive director of the TCEQ within 5 business days.
(Ordinance 006-2015 adopted 2/17/15)