§ 28-03-035. Water rationing.
The following water conservation stages shall be in effect at the times specified. When Stage 1, Stage 2, or Stage 3 water rationing is in effect, no person, firm or corporation shall use any water in violation of any provision of this ordinance. Restrictions contained in each stage will be effective in all subsequent stages unless explicitly or implicitly repealed.
(1)
Stage 1: Water rationing. Whenever the estimated demands on the system exceed the estimated supply (storage, well capacity and surface flows) such that it appears that there will be a substantial shortage of water over the next six-month period, a "Water Emergency" will be declared. The city manager shall have the authority to impose Stage 1 water rationing. The city commission shall consider the actions of the city manager at its next meeting at which time the city commission shall approve or disapprove the action taken by the city manager. The following requirements shall be in effect.
a.
The city manager shall make public announcements, through the print and broadcast media concerning the Stage 1 water rationing, whenever Stage 1 is in effect. The announcement will include a description of the rationing restrictions.
b.
Use of water through a sprinkler system or use of water through a hose to water any grass, trees, plants or other vegetation shall be determined as follows:
1.
Users with odd numbered addresses shall be permitted to use water in the above manner on each Wednesday and Sunday.
2.
Users with even numbered addresses shall be permitted to use water in the above manner on each Tuesday and Saturday.
3.
Watering in the above manner shall be prohibited between the hours of 8 a.m. and 8 p.m.
4.
Owners of newly seeded or sodded lawns or newly planted trees and shrubs allowed under section 28-03-033(2) shall be required to comply with this section
c.
These restrictions shall apply to all residences and to all businesses and institutions having lawns, gardens, trees, or shrubs, and shall be followed at all parks and public buildings which are watered with treated water. Areas watered with reclaimed or private well water are exempted from these restrictions. These restrictions shall not apply to any person, firm or corporation engaged in the business of growing or selling plants of any kind.
d.
Treated water may be used to fill a swimming pool during the time that the homeowner is entitled to water his/her lawn.
e.
Newly seeded or sodded lawns or newly planted trees or shrubs shall be exempted from Stage 1 water rationing for the time needed to establish the lawn, tree or shrub, provided the vegetation was planted before Stage 1 was imposed and the time needed to establish the lawn, tree or shrub does not exceed thirty (30) days. Said lawns, plants or shrubs must still comply with the Water conservation provisions of section 28-03-033. No lawns shall be newly seeded or sodded or trees or shrubs newly planted.
1.
Anyone who has seeded or sodded a lawn or planted trees or shrubs prior to Stage 1 water rationing shall obtain a permit from the City of Alamogordo for this exemption.
2.
Newly seeded or sodded shall mean an area that visibly lacks vegetation. Watering shall be restricted to an area that covers newly seeded or sodded portions of a lawn without extending unnecessarily to areas with established vegetation.
f.
No water shall be used for fund-raising car washes.
g.
Washing building, decks, sidewalks, driveways, parking areas, tennis courts, patios or other impervious surface areas with a hose except in emergencies to remove spills of hazardous materials or to eliminate dangerous conditions which threaten the public health, safety, or welfare, is prohibited.
(2)
Stage 2 water rationing. Whenever the estimated demands on the system exceed the estimated supply (storage, well capacity and surface flows) such that it appears that there will be a substantial shortage of water during the next two (2) month period, the city manager shall have the authority to impose Stage 2 water rationing. The following requirements will be in effect:
a.
The city manager will make public announcements through the print and broadcast media that Stage 2 is in effect. The announcements will include a description of the rationing restrictions.
b.
The city commission shall be called into emergency session in accordance with the current open meetings resolution after the imposition of Stage 2 to consider ratifying the city manager's action or to amend or lift the Stage 2 water rationing as circumstances warrant.
c.
Use of water through a sprinkler system or use of water through a hose to water any grass, trees, plants or other vegetation shall be determined as follows:
1.
Users with odd numbered addresses shall be permitted to use water in the above manner on each Friday.
2.
Users with even numbered addresses shall be permitted to use water in the above manner on each Tuesday.
3.
Watering in the above manner shall be prohibited between the hours of 8 a.m. and 8 p.m.
d.
These restrictions shall apply to all residences and to all businesses and institutions having lawns, gardens, trees, or shrubs and shall be followed at all parks and public buildings which are watered with treated water. Areas watered with reclaimed or private well water are exempt from these restrictions.
e.
No water shall be used to wash any vehicle except at places of business where autos are washed on every business day either with attendants, with automatic equipment or by self service.
f.
Surcharges:
1.
For all water used in Tier 2, a surcharge equal to and in addition to the in-city commodity rate for Tier 2.
2.
For all water used in Tier 3, a surcharge equal to and in addition to the in-city commodity rate for Tier 3.
3.
For all water used in Tier 4, a surcharge equal to and in addition to the in-city commodity rate for Tier 4.
4.
For all water used in Tier 5, a surcharge equal to and in addition to the in-city commodity rate for Tier 5.
These surcharges shall be instituted at the earliest possible date and remain in effect until water rationing is no longer required.
(3)
Stage 3 water rationing. Whenever the estimated demands on the system exceed the estimated supply (storage, well capacity and surface flows) such that it appears that there will be a substantial shortage of water during the next twenty-day period, the city commission finds that the city is in a state of emergency and the following measures are necessary to protect the health and welfare of the citizens. The city manager shall have the authority to impose Stage 3 water rationing. The following requirements will be in effect:
a.
The city manager will make public announcements in the print and broadcast media that Stage 3 water rationing is in effect. The announcements will include a description of the provisions in effect.
b.
The city commission shall be called into emergency session in accordance with the current open meetings resolution after the imposition of Stage 3 to consider ratifying the city manager's action or amend or lift the Stage 3 water rationing as circumstances warrant.
c.
Use of treated water through a sprinkler system or use of treated water through a hose to water any grass, trees, plants or other vegetation shall be prohibited.
d.
All watering of grass, trees, plants or other vegetation at all parks and public buildings owned by the city which are watered using treated water shall be prohibited. Areas watered with reclaimed or private well water are exempt from these restrictions.
e.
No treated water shall be used to wash any vehicle except at places of business where autos are washed on every business day either with attendants, with automatic equipment or by self service. Such operations shall be limited to ten (10) hours per day, with the owner/operator to publicly post operating hours where visible to the general public.
f.
No swimming pools will be filled with treated water and no treated water shall be added to any swimming pool. Indoor pools used for medical or rehabilitative purposes shall be exempt from this section. The public pool at the family recreation center shall be exempt from this section.
g.
It shall be the policy of the city of Alamogordo to keep Stage 3 in effect for no longer than absolutely necessary. The city manager and the city commission shall take steps to lift the Stage 3 restrictions as soon as lifting the restrictions will not endanger the water supply by reducing amounts of water in storage.
(4)
The city manager will make written reports to the city commission at every regular city commission meeting (including emergency sessions called under this section) while water rationing is in effect. The city manager will make weekly written reports to the city commission while Stage 3 water rationing is in effect.
(Ord. No. 919, 7-26-94; Ord. No. 948, § 3, 6-13-95; Ord. No. 1008, 4-8-97; Ord. No. 1169, § 3, 2-11-03; Ord. No. 1175, 3-25-03; Ord. No. 1204, § 1, 6-22-04)