13.06.070 Water conservation stages.
No customer of the City shall knowingly make, cause, use, or permit the use of water from the City for residential, commercial, industrial, agricultural, governmental, or any other purpose in a manner contrary to any provision of this chapter, or in an amount in excess of that use permitted by either Conservation Stage 2 or 3 when in effect as declared by separate resolution of the City Council, in accordance with the provisions of this chapter.
A. Stage 1 – Voluntary Conservation. In order to achieve an overall system-wide reduction goal of 10 percent, all potable water customers of the City are requested to:
1. Apply irrigation water only during the evening and early morning hours to reduce evaporation losses.
2. Inspect all irrigation systems, repair leaks, and adjust spray heads to provide optimum coverage and eliminate avoidable overspray.
3. For irrigation valves controlling water applied to lawns, vary the minutes of run time consistent with fluctuations in weather.
4. Reduce minutes of run time for each irrigation cycle if water begins to run off to gutters and ditches before the irrigation cycle is completed.
5. Become conversant with and strictly adhere to this chapter.
6. Utilize water conservation rebate and giveaway programs to replace water guzzling plumbing fixtures and appliances with water efficient models.
7. Utilize City information regarding using water efficiently, reading water meters, repairing ordinary leaks, and how to make your landscape a water efficient landscape.
B. Stage 2 – Mandatory Compliance – Water Alert. The City Council may by resolution declare a Conservation Stage 2 upon recommendation by the City Manager based on water supply and delivery projections by the Public Works Superintendent that an overall system-wide reduction of 25 percent is necessary, taking into consideration projections and estimates made by the Public Works Superintendent pertaining to the City’s water supply. In order to achieve an overall system-wide reduction of 25 percent, the following activities shall be prohibited:
1. Nonessential uses of water, including the following:
a. Limit outdoor irrigation of ornamental landscapes or turf with potable water by the persons it serves to no more than two days per week.
b. Refilling or initial filling of a swimming pool.
c. Noncommercial washing of privately owned motor vehicles, trailers and boats except from a bucket and except that a hose equipped with a shut-off nozzle may be used to rinse the vehicle.
d. Any use of water from a fire hydrant except for fighting fires or essential construction needs.
2. The City Council shall have the authority to prohibit other activities and water uses upon the recommendation of the City Manager that such additional measures are necessary to achieve an overall system-wide reduction of 25 percent in water usage.
C. Stage 3 – Mandatory Compliance – Water Emergency. The City Council may, by resolution, declare a Conservation Stage 3 upon recommendation by the City Manager based on water supply and delivery projections by the Public Works Superintendent that an overall system-wide reduction of 30 percent is necessary, taking into consideration projections and estimates made by the Public Works Superintendent pertaining to the City’s water supply. In order to achieve an overall system-wide reduction of 30 percent, the following activities shall be prohibited:
1. Any activities prohibited during a Conservation Stage 2.
2. Watering any residential or commercial or industrial area lawn with potable water, at any time day or night.
3. Planting any new landscaping, except for drought resistant landscaping.
4. All day and nighttime irrigation sprinkling unless only a handheld nozzle is used. An exception will be made to permit drip irrigation for established perennial plants and trees using manual or automatic time-controlled water application.
5. Planting of new annual ornamental plants, flowers or vines may not occur until the Stage 3 emergency is over.
6. The City Council shall have the authority to prohibit other activities and water uses upon the recommendation of the City Manager that such additional measures are necessary to achieve an overall system-wide reduction of 30 percent in water usage. (Ord. 1083 §§ 1, 2, 2016; Ord. 1070 § 1, 2014)