(a) 
The city shall adhere to a 4-stage drought contingency plan as outlined in this 2024 WC&DCP renewal and submission document.
(b) 
This 4-stage plan shall be followed for a drought declared condition or a system-wide emergency.
(Ordinance 1113.1 adopted 12/3/12; 2004 Code, sec. 13.861; Ordinance 1270 adopted 3/21/19; Ordinance 1377 adopted 4/16/2024)
(a) 
The city receives groundwater from seven (7) water wells that draw water from the Hickory Aquifer. Brady Lake reservoir is considered an alternate water source for drinking water purposes. However, substantial investment is needed at the city's groundwater treatment plant to properly process this surface water supply. The Hickory Aquifer remains the sole source of drinking water for the city. With multiple groundwater wells, if one fails there is backup to supplement supply for short periods of time. In spite of this redundancy, the city must be prepared to respond to any water supply situation whether a major incident or emergency. It must also be prepared to respond to other emergency conditions occurring in the city's system.
(b) 
Four (4) threshold levels have been identified for triggering various responses to water supply incidents or emergencies. These trigger conditions and corresponding response measures are summarized in attachment D to Ordinance 1377.
(1) 
Stage 1 triggers—Customer awareness.
(A) 
Water customers are requested to voluntarily limit the use of water for non-essential purposes and to practice water conservation.
(B) 
Stage 1 will begin: Every April 1st, the city will post through social media a public announcement to its customers.
(C) 
Stage 1 will end: Every September 30th, the city will post through social media a public announcement to its customers.
(2) 
Stage 2 triggers—Mild water shortage conditions.
(A) 
Requirements for initiation.
Customers may be requested by the mayor or the duly appointed representative to voluntarily conserve water and adhere to the prescribed restrictions in section 13.12.063(2), entitled "Stage 2 response—Mild water shortage conditions," when any of the following conditions exist:
(i) 
Average daily water consumption reaches 90% of average daily water consumption and production daily rate for three consecutive days.
(ii) 
System storage tanks cannot be replenished for two consecutive days.
(iii) 
Two groundwater wells in the system are inoperable simultaneously.
(iv) 
Supply from groundwater sources is diminished to 80% of water treatment plant capacity.
(v) 
Drawdown from the Hickory Aquifer reaches 7 feet as declared by the Hickory Underground Water Conservation District (HUWCD).
(B) 
Requirements for termination.
Stage 2 of the plan may be rescinded by the mayor or the duly appointed representative when any or all of the conditions listed as triggering events have ceased to exist for a period of 3 consecutive days.
(3) 
Stage 3 triggers—Moderate water shortage conditions.
(A) 
Requirements for initiation.
(i) 
The city council shall convene at an appropriate time and place to receive information from the city manager or public works director that a stage 3 condition has been determined and a recommendation to implement a stage 3 response is appropriate.
(ii) 
Customers shall be required to comply with the requirements and restrictions on certain non-essential water uses provided in section 13.12.063(3), entitled "Stage 3 response—Moderate water shortage conditions," when any of the following conditions exist:
a. 
Average daily water consumption reaches 100% of average daily water consumption and production daily rate for three consecutive days.
b. 
System storage tanks cannot be replenished for four (4) consecutive days.
c. 
Two groundwater wells in the system are inoperable simultaneously.
d. 
Supply from groundwater sources is diminished to 70% of water treatment capacity.
e. 
Drawdown from the Hickory Aquifer reaches 7 feet as declared by the Hickory Underground Water Conservation District (HUWCD).
(B) 
Requirements for termination.
Stage 3 of the plan may be rescinded by the city council or the duly appointed representative when all of the conditions listed as triggering events have ceased to exist for a period of three (3) consecutive days. Upon termination of stage 3, stage 2 becomes operative.
(4) 
Stage 4 triggers—Severe water shortage conditions.
(A) 
Requirements for initiation.
(i) 
The city council shall convene at an appropriate time and place to receive information from the city manager or public works director that a stage 4 condition has been determined and a recommendation to implement a stage 4 response is appropriate.
(ii) 
Customers shall be required to comply with the requirements and restrictions on certain non-essential water uses provided in section 13.12.063(4), entitled "Stage 4 response—Severe water shortage conditions," for stage 4 of this plan when:
a. 
Average daily water consumption reaches 110% of average daily water consumption and production daily rate for three consecutive days.
b. 
Failure of a pumping station or other major system component or a threat to the health and safety of public potable water system.
c. 
Two groundwater wells in the system are inoperable simultaneously.
d. 
Supply from groundwater sources is diminished to 60% of water treatment capacity.
e. 
Drawdown from the Hickory Aquifer reaches 7 feet as declared by the Hickory Underground Water Conservation District (HUWCD).
f. 
Other emergency conditions that may arise as determined by the mayor and/or city council.
(B) 
Requirements for termination.
Stage 4 of the plan may be rescinded by the city council or the duly appointed representative when all of the conditions listed as triggering events have ceased to exist for a period of 3 consecutive days. Upon termination of stage 4, stage 3 becomes operative.
(Ordinance 1113.1 adopted 12/3/12; 2004 Code, sec. 13.862; Ordinance 1270 adopted 3/21/19; Ordinance 1377 adopted 4/16/2024)
In response to triggering events mentioned in section 13.12.062, the city has adopted these response measures and corresponding goals that are summarized in attachment D to Ordinance 1377.
(1) 
Stage 1 response - customer awareness.
(A) 
Goal.
This announcement will be designed to increase customer awareness of water conservation and encourage the most efficient use of water. A copy of the current public announcement on water conservation awareness shall be kept on file for inspection by the TCEQ.
(2) 
Stage 2 response - mild water shortage conditions.
(A) 
Goal.
Achieve a voluntary 5% percent reduction in total water use. Encourage water conservation measures such as decreasing water use for landscape purposes.
(B) 
Response measures.
In accordance with the triggering criteria set forth in section 13.12.062 of this 2024 Brady WCP & DCP renewal and submission, the mayor or the duly appointed representative shall acknowledge that a mild emergency or water shortage condition exists and shall implement the following response measures:
(i) 
Inform the general public through news media, websites or other; and notify major commercial users (including wholesale customers) by hand notices of trigger condition and encourage them to look for ways to voluntarily reduce water usage.
(ii) 
Activate an information center and discuss the situation in the local news media daily.
(iii) 
Implement the following voluntary water use restrictions:
a. 
Water customers are requested to voluntarily limit the irrigation of landscaped areas to Sundays and Thursdays for customers with a street address ending in an even number (0, 2, 4, 6 or 8), and Tuesdays and Fridays for water customers with a street address ending in an odd number (1, 3, 5, 7 or 9), and to irrigate landscapes only between the hours of midnight and 10:00 a.m. and 8:00 p.m to midnight on designated watering days.
b. 
Water customers are requested to practice water conservation and to minimize or discontinue water use for non-essential purposes.
(3) 
Stage 3 response - Moderate water shortage conditions.
(A) 
Goal.
Achieve a 15% percent reduction in total water use based on average daily water use. Restrict watering to a minimum.
(B) 
Response measures.
In accordance with the triggering criteria set forth in section 13.12.062 of this plan, the city council or the duly appointed representative shall acknowledge that a moderate emergency or water shortage condition exists and shall implement the following response measures:
(i) 
Continue implementation of all relevant actions in preceding stage.
(ii) 
Limit nonessential water usage such as street washing, water hydrant flushing, and athletic field watering, city parks and golf course.
(iii) 
Limit residential car washing, window washing, and pavement washing unless a bucket and hose with manual cut-off nozzle is used.
(iv) 
Impose mandatory lawn watering schedule such that watering of lawns shall be limited to Sundays and Thursdays for customers with a street address ending in an even number (0, 2, 4, 6 or 8) and Tuesdays and Fridays for water customers with a street address ending in an odd number (1, 3, 5, 7 or 9), during the hours of 6:00-8:00 a.m. and 8:00-10:00 p.m. on designated watering days.
(4) 
Stage 4 response - Severe water shortage conditions.
(A) 
Goal.
Achieve a 30% percent reduction in total water use based on average daily water use. No water uses outside of the minimum necessary.
(B) 
Response measures.
In accordance with the triggering criteria set forth in section 13.12.062 of this plan, the city council or the duly appointed representative shall determine that a severe emergency or water shortage condition exists and shall implement the following response measures:
(i) 
Maintain pertinent preceding stage actions.
(ii) 
Forbid all outside water use except for public health protection or limited livestock watering.
(iii) 
Restrict each customer's water consumption to a determined percentage of the prior non-emergency month's metered usage allowing a sufficient quantity for public health continuation.
(iv) 
Consider adoption of an emergency ordinance to implement water rationing or surcharges for excessive water users.
(v) 
Require wholesale customers to partially fill tanks during the hours of midnight - 6:00 a.m. (as applicable).
(Ordinance 1113.1 adopted 12/3/12; 2004 Code, sec. 13.863; Ordinance 1270 adopted 3/21/19; Ordinance 1377 adopted 4/16/2024)
For every wholesale water contract entered into or renewed after adoption of the drought contingency plan, including contract extensions, in case of a shortage of water resulting from drought, the water to be distributed shall be divided in accordance with Texas Water Code section 11.039.
(Ordinance 1113.1 adopted 12/3/12; 2004 Code, sec. 13.864; Ordinance 1270 adopted 3/21/19; Ordinance 1377 adopted 4/16/2024)
City council may grant any customer an exemption or variance from the drought contingency plan for good cause upon written request to the mayor. Mayor may grant an emergency variance until city council can confirm or deny such request. A customer who is refused an exemption or variance may appeal such action of the utility in writing to the state commission on environmental quality. The utility will treat all customers equally concerning exemptions and variances, and shall not discriminate in granting exemptions and variances. No exemption or variance shall be retroactive or otherwise justify any violation of this plan occurring prior to the issuance of the variance.
(Ordinance 1113.1 adopted 12/3/12; 2004 Code, sec. 13.865; Ordinance 1270 adopted 3/21/19; Ordinance 1377 adopted 4/16/2024)
Mandatory water use restrictions may be imposed when any of the four (4) stages of drought contingency are triggered. In order to potentially reduce the amount of water customer's use, city council will impose the following fee schedule for each stage of drought contingency:
(1) 
Stage 1.
At stage 1 no water rate changes shall apply (rate as adopted for current fiscal year in effect). The monthly rates for stage 1 drought contingency are identical to the city's current water rates.
(2) 
Stage 2.
At stage 2 no water rate changes shall apply (rate as adopted for current fiscal year in effect). The monthly rates for stage 1 drought contingency are identical to the city's current water rates.
(3) 
Stage 3.
(A) 
Inside the city limits.
The following monthly rates shall be charged all persons, firms, or corporations for the use of city water inside the city limits of the city when stage 3 drought contingency is in effect:
(i) 
Residential, commercial and wholesale.
$Rate*/1,000
0 to 10,000 gallons
$Rate*x1.10/1,000
10,001 to 50,000 gallons
$Rate*x1.15/1,000
50,001 to 100,000 gallons
$Rate*x1.20/1,000
Over 100,000 gallons
*
Rate as adopted for current fiscal year in effect.
(B) 
Outside the city limits.
The following monthly rates shall be charged all persons, firms, or corporations for the use of city water outside the city limits of the city when stage 3 drought contingency is in effect:
(i) 
Residential, commercial and wholesale.
$Rate*/1,000
0 to 10,000 gallons
$Rate*x1.10/1,000
10,001 to 50,000 gallons
$Rate*x1.15/1,000
50,001 to 100,000 gallons
$Rate*x1.20/1,000
Over 100,000 gallons
*
Rate as adopted for current fiscal year in effect.
(C) 
The monthly rates shown for stage 3 drought contingency were determined using the city's current monthly water rates as a guideline and are subject to modification should the current monthly water rates be altered.
(4) 
Stage 4.
(A) 
Inside the city limits.
The following monthly rates shall be charged all persons, firms, or corporations for the use of city water inside the city limits of the city when stage 4 drought contingency is in effect:
(i) 
Residential and commercial inside city.
$Rate*/1,000
0 to 10,000 gallons
$Rate*x1.25/1,000
10,001 to 50,000 gallons
$Rate*x1.30/1,000
50,001 to 100,000 gallons
$Rate*x1.40/1,000
Over 100,000 gallons
*
Rate as adopted for current fiscal year in effect.
(B) 
Outside the city limits.
The following monthly rates shall be charged all persons, firms, or corporations for the use of city water outside the city limits of the city when stage 4 drought contingency is in effect:
(i) 
Residential and commercial inside [outside] city.
$Rate*/1,000
0 to 10,000 gallons
$Rate*x1.25/1,000
10,001 to 50,000 gallons
$Rate*x1.30/1,000
50,001 to 100,000 gallons
$Rate*x1.40/1,000
Over 100,000 gallons
*
Rate as adopted for current fiscal year in effect.
(C) 
The monthly rates shown for stage 4 drought contingency were determined using the city's current monthly water rates as a guideline and are subject to modification should the current monthly water rates be altered.
(Ordinance 1113.1 adopted 12/3/12; 2004 Code, sec. 13.866; Ordinance adopting 2019 Code; Ordinance 1270 adopted 3/21/19; Ordinance 1377 adopted 4/16/2024)