The conservation and efficient use of water is found and declared to be a public purpose of highest priority. It will result in preservation of natural resources, enhancement of public health, safety and welfare, and a reduction in public costs for the construction of enlarged water and sewer facilities.
(Ord. 1807 § 1, 1990; Ord. 2816 § 1 (Exh. A), 2010)
The city may offer the following types of assistance to all utility customers of the city, whether located inside or outside of the city limits:
(1) 
Providing written notice to customers at the time of each billing statement showing the amount of water used at said customer's property during the corresponding billing period in the preceding year. If water consumption has increased by 125 percent or more, said notice may suggest that the customer contact the city for a water use audit and that conservation measures be immediately implemented;
(2) 
Providing water use audits for any and all customers upon request. In the case of high-volume users the city may take the initiative to contact the customer and request an opportunity to conduct a water use audit;
(3) 
Providing inspections of customer premises, either directly or through one or more inspectors under contract, to determine and inform the customer of the estimated cost of purchasing and installing conservation fixtures, systems and equipment;
(4) 
Providing customers with a list of businesses that sell and install conservation fixtures, systems and equipment within or in close proximity to the service area of the city. Each of said businesses shall have requested to be included on the list and shall have the ability to provide the products in a workmanlike manner and in accordance with the prevailing standards of the industry;
(5) 
Arranging for the purchase and installation of approved conservation fixtures, systems and equipment at the customer's cost; provided, that the city may provide the following retrofit plumbing devices, upon request, at no cost: low-volume shower heads, toilet tank bags, faucet aerators, and leak detection dye; and
(6) 
Providing economic incentives for voluntary installation of conservation fixtures, systems and equipment, as provided in MMC § 14.09.030 and § 14.09.040.
(Ord. 1807 § 1, 1990; Ord. 2816 § 1 (Exh. A), 2010)
Customers who, at their own cost, purchase and install approved water conservation fixtures, systems or equipment on a voluntary basis when the same are not otherwise required by any code, rule or regulation, shall be entitled to payment from the city in an amount equivalent to one-half the verified cost incurred by the customer, up to a maximum of $50.00 per customer account. Applications for such economic incentives shall be filed with the city clerk within 30 days after installation of the conservation fixtures, systems or equipment. The installation shall be subject to inspection and approval by the city. Economic incentives shall be on a one-time-only basis for each customer account, and shall only be paid if the account is in a then-current status. Economic incentives shall not apply to fixtures, systems or equipment used for commercial or industrial purposes.
(Ord. 1807 § 1, 1990; Ord. 2816 § 1 (Exh. A), 2010)
Property owners or contractors constructing new buildings which will be connected to the city's utility system shall be entitled to the same economic incentives referred to in MMC § 14.09.030 if, at their own cost, they purchase and install approved water conservation fixtures, systems or equipment on a voluntary basis when the same are not otherwise required by any code, rule or regulation.
(Ord. 1807 § 1, 1990; Ord. 2816 § 1 (Exh. A), 2010)
The following nonessential uses of water are prohibited on all properties connected to the city's water system, whether inside or outside of the city limits:
(1) 
Washing sidewalks, walkways, driveways, parking lots, patios and other exterior paved areas by direct hosing, except as may be necessary for emergency fire fighting activities.
(2) 
Escape of water through breaks or leaks within the customer's plumbing or private distribution system for any period of time beyond which such break or leak should reasonably have been discovered and corrected. It shall be presumed that a period of 48 hours after the customer discovers a leak or break, or receives notice from the city of such leak or break, whichever occurs first, is a reasonable time within which to correct the same.
(3) 
Noncommercial washing of privately owned motor vehicles, trailers and boats, except from a bucket or a hose equipped with a shut-off nozzle used for quick rinses and in areas where soapy water will not run off into the storm water drainage system.
(4) 
Lawn sprinkling and irrigation which allows water to run off or overspray the lawn area. Every customer is deemed to have knowledge of and control over his lawn sprinkling and irrigation at all times.
(5) 
Sprinkling and irrigation of lawns, ground cover or shrubbery between the hours of 10:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m., or on any day not authorized by the rotation schedule announced on an annual basis by the city.
(Ord. 1807 § 1, 1990; Ord. 2816 § 1 (Exh. A), 2010)
If the city determines that any customer is violating any provision of this chapter it shall notify said customer, in writing, that the violation must be corrected or abated within a specified period of time, the length of which shall be reasonably related to the circumstances of the particular violation. Said notice shall be mailed to the last known billing address for the customer. If the customer fails to comply, or if a repeat violation occurs within the following six months, the city may implement one or more of the following enforcement measures:
(1) 
The city may install a flow restrictor on the customer's service line. The cost of said device, together with a reasonable installation charge, shall be added to the customer's water bill. At the conclusion of the enforcement action the cost of removing the device shall be added to the customer's water bill.
(2) 
The city may disconnect water service to the property. A fee of $50.00 shall be paid for reconnection of any service which has been disconnected pursuant to this section.
(3) 
Violations of, or failure to comply with, any provision of this chapter shall constitute a civil infraction and any person found to have violated the same is punishable by a monetary penalty of not more than $50.00 for each such violation. Each day that a violation continues shall constitute a new and separate infraction.
(4) 
Enforcement of the provisions of this chapter shall be pursuant to MMC Title 4.
(Ord. 1807 § 1, 1990; Ord. 2816 § 1 (Exh. A), 2010)