Tehachapi Municipal Code Ch. 13.22 Water Shortage Contingency Measures

The purposes of this chapter are to address conditions when the city's production and supply of water is insufficient to meet customer demand and to implement state regulations addressing drought conditions presently existing in the state of California which requires a water shortage contingency plan to address water shortage situations which include shortages of ten percent to fifty percent. This chapter provides for three stages of alert conditions. When any stage is implemented by the city, the stage and this chapter shall supersede Chapter 13.20 where the two are inconsistent and the more restrictive measures of this chapter shall apply.

(Ord. No. 15-05-724, § 1(Exh. A), 4-20-2015)

A water conservation stage shall be determined in accordance with the provisions of this chapter. A water conservation stage shall be called and imposed by resolution of the city council and shall remain in full force and effect until otherwise determined or discontinued by resolution of the city council declaring that existing water supply conditions and the supply of water available for distribution within the city's service area has been replenished or augmented. The city manager shall promulgate guidelines (the "guidelines") which shall set forth the criteria for determining when a particular conservation stage is to be implemented and terminated.

(Ord. No. 15-05-724, § 1(Exh. A), 4-20-2015)

A water conservation stage shall be determined in accordance with the provisions of this chapter and the guidelines.

A. Water Conservation Stage 1. A water conservation stage 1 ("stage 1") shall be called pursuant to the guidelines or emergency or drought-related regulations imposed by state or federal regulatory agencies. During stage 1, compliance shall be voluntary. All water withdrawn from city facilities shall be put to reasonable beneficial use. Water conservation measures shall include the following as well as such other measures as may be implemented by the city from time to time:

1. Preventing excessive run-off from entering adjacent properties, sidewalks, gutters, surface drains or storm drains.

2. Use of drip irrigation systems or other methods designed to prevent excessive surface irrigation of landscaped areas, resulting in conditions such as puddling or runoff.

3. Repair of any and all observable leaks of water on the premises.

4. Use of a broom or blower to clean driveways and paved or hard surfaces.

5. Use of water for washing down driveways and paved or hard surfaces only when necessary to alleviate immediate fire or sanitation hazards.

6. Use of a shut off nozzle when using a hose to wash a vehicle or hand watering.

7. Use of low flow shower heads and shortening time in the shower.

8. Use of volume reduction devices in toilets and being careful not to use the toilet as an ashtray or wastebasket.

9. Reduction in water consumption for bathing, hand dishwashing and irrigation by reduction of flow time for these activities.

10. Running only full loads in the washing machine and dishwasher.

B. Water Conservation Stage 2. A water conservation stage 2 ("stage 2") shall be called pursuant to the guidelines and when it is apparent that the city's production or supply facilities cannot meet customer demand under a stage 1 conditions or pursuant to emergency or drought-related regulations imposed by state or federal regulatory agencies. During stage 2, all measures in stage 1 shall apply and shall be mandatory. In addition to the stage 1 measures, the following shall apply in stage 2 which shall be mandatory:

1. Irrigation of lawns, landscaping, foliage, gardens, flowerbeds, and other outdoor areas shall be limited as follows: street addresses ending in odd numbers may only water on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays; and addresses ending in even numbers may water only on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays. Irrigation of any type is prohibited on Sundays. The only exception shall be areas irrigated with non-potable water. Any single irrigation station may not run longer than ten minutes per day.

2. Outdoor irrigation of turf and ornamental landscaping shall be prohibited between the hours of ten a.m. and four p.m. daily.

3. Any and all observable leaks of water on a resident's premises shall be repaired within twenty-four hours of notification to customer.

4. No hosing down of non-landscaped or hardscape areas.

5. Construction water shall be prohibited during a stage 2 alert condition.

6. The washing of boats, vehicles or mobile equipment shall only be allowed in car washes or by using a bucket and hose with an automatic shut off nozzle for rinsing.

7. The use of water in ornamental fountains or water features shall only be permitted if the water is recirculated.

8. The city manager will have the right to reduce the amount of water used in irrigating any park site, greenbelt or open areas within the city limits.

9. No outdoor irrigation shall be permitted during and forty-eight hours after a measurable rainfall event.

10. Restaurants and other food service establishments shall serve water to customers only on request.

11. Operators of hotels and motels shall provide guests with the option of choosing not to have towels and linens laundered daily and prominently display notice of this option.

12. Other restrictions may be imposed if deemed necessary by the city manager or city council.

C. Water Conservation Stage 3. A water conservation stage 3 ("stage 3") shall be called pursuant to the guidelines and when it is apparent that the reductions achieved from stage 1 and stage 2 conditions are not sufficient to allow the city's production and supply to meet customer demand or pursuant to any emergency or drought-related regulations imposed by state or federal regulatory agencies. During stage 3, all measures in stages 1 and 2 shall apply and shall be mandatory. In addition to the stage 1 and stage 2 measures, the following restrictions on water use shall apply which shall be mandatory:

1. No irrigating of lawns. Plants, trees and bushes may be irrigated by use of a bucket or the use of reclaimed gray water as allowed by state and county health rules and regulations. No runoff shall occur.

2. Hosing down of unlandscaped or hard surfaces is prohibited.

3. The introduction of water into swimming pools, wading pools and spas shall be prohibited.

4. No washing of motor or recreational vehicles, except at a car wash facility.

5. Parks may irrigate trees and shrubbery with buckets only or other methods which ensure that no more than twenty gallons of water are used on a single tree or shrub during a period of one week. Irrigation of playing fields and open spaces shall be prohibited.

(Ord. No. 15-05-724, § 1(Exh. A), 4-20-2015)

In the event the city experiences a facility malfunction or supply interruption during high water use periods, stages 1, 2, or 3 restrictions may be implemented immediately by the city manager. In the event of a prolonged stage 3 condition, the city council shall have the authority to take any other action available to ensure that the city's water supply is not jeopardized.

(Ord. No. 15-05-724, § 1(Exh. A), 4-20-2015)

A. Civil Enforcement. The city shall have all remedies available in its Municipal Code and ordinances for the enforcement of this chapter including, without limitation, Section 1.16.065 (administrative citations). Any fine, penalty, interest, or costs imposed on a violator of this chapter may, in addition to all other remedies available to the city thereunder, be added to the violator's water bill and thereafter be subject to enforcement therein including, without limitation, disconnection or turnoff of water service.

B. Criminal Enforcement. Any person violating any provision of this chapter or failing to comply with any of its requirements shall be deemed guilty of a misdemeanor unless the violation is made an infraction by ordinance and shall be punishable as described in Chapter 1.20 of the Municipal Code.

(Ord. No. 15-05-724, § 1(Exh. A), 4-20-2015)