89-F-24 Water Conservation
ORDINANCE NO. _ ?CJ- '1"'~1
AN ORDINANCE
BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF SCHERTZ,
TEXAS PROVIDING THAT THE CODE OF ORDINANCES,
CITY OF SCHERTZ, TEXAS, BE AMENDED BY
REVISING ARTICLE IV MANDATORY WATER
CONSERVATION, SECTION 19-81
BE IT ORDAINED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF SCHERTZ, TEXAS:
I
THAT Section 19-81 of the Code or Ordinances of the
City of Schertz, Texas be amended so that such section shall read
as follows:
"Section 19-81
and Surcharges
Drought & Emergency Water Management
When the level of the Edwards Underground Aquifer declines to 644
feet above sea 1 evel , the Mayor, with the advice and
recommendation of the City Manager and Water/Wastewater
Department Superintendent, shall declare the Water Management
Plan in effect and a special meeting of the City Council shall be
called. Upon the City Council's determination that action is
required,' the following provisions shall be placed in effect.
(A) The City of Schertz Water Management Plan attached
and identified as Exhibit A is hereby adopted in total the same
as if printed in it's entirety.
(B) It shall be unlawful for the owner or occupant of
any residence or business to fail to comply with the Water
Management Plan.
(C) Staging Criteria for Water Management.
Stage 1. Water Awareness. Initiated when the
level in the Bexar County observation well is at 644 feet.
Terminated at the discretion of the City Manager in consultation
with the Edwards Underground Water District considering the
existing water level, current precipitation and the outlook for
additional precipitation. (It is anticipated that a water
awareness program will become an ongoing City activity).
Stage 2. Water Watch. Initiated when the water
level in the Bexar County observation well is at 628 feet.
Terminated at the discretion of the City Manager in consultation
with the Edwards Underground Water District considering the
existing water level, current precipitation and the outlook for
additional precipitation. Upon termination STAGE 1 becomes
effective.
Stage 3. Water Warning. Initiated when the water
level in the Bexar County observation well is at 612 feet.
Terminated at the discretion of the City Manager in consultation
with the Edwards Underground Water District considering the
existing water level, current precipitation and the outlook for
additional precipitation. Upon termination, STAGE 2 becomes
effective.
Stage 4. Water Emergency. Initiated at the
discretion of the City Council upon recommendation by the City
Manager to maintain the public health, safety and welfare.
Terminated at the discretion of the City Council upon
recommendation by the City Manager in consultation with the
Edwards Underground Water District considering the existing water
level, current precipitation, and the outlook for additional
precipitation. Upon termination, STAGE 3 becomes effective.
Stage 5. Emergency-Mandatory Rationing.
Additional drought measures as determined by the City of Schertz
and Edwards Underground Water District to protect human heal th
and safety and live stock watering.
Stage 5-A. Water Emergency-Mandatory Rationing.
Natural disaster and/or mechanical failure damaging the water
production facilities, storage tanks and/or distribution system.
(D) In addition to the standard rates for water use in
existence at the time of implementation of the Water Management
Plan, there will be an additional surcharge during drought and
emergency conditions in the following stages:
Stage 3: an additional drought surcharge of two
dollars ($2.00) per thousand gallons (1,000) used per month in
excess of fifteen thousand (15,000) gallons for all residential
users.
Stage 4: an additional drought surcharge of three
dollars ($3.00) per thousand (1,000) gallons used per month in
excess of thirteen thousand (13,000) gallons for all residential
users.
Stage 5: an additional drought and/ or emergency
surcharge of three dollars ($3.00) per thousand (1,000) gallons
used per month in excess of ten thousand (10,000) gallons for all
residential users.
(E) The prOVlSlons of Stage 5-A shall remain in effect
from the day the Mayor declares that a water emergency exists and
shall continue in effect from day to day until such time that the
need or water emergency no longer exists.
(F) An appropriate and fair pro rata formula will be
used to determine billing rates based on number of days mandatory
water conservation declaration remains in effect."
II
THAT all ordinances or parts of ordinances in conflict,
with this ordinance are hereby repealed.
Passed on first reading the f
day of
, 1989.
PASSED, APPROVED AND ADOPTED this the
oo'.~ ' 1989.
day of
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ATTEST:
City Secretary, City of Schertz
(SEAL OF CITY)
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EXHIBIT A
CITY OF SCHERTZ
WATER MANAGEMENT PLAN
OBJECTIVES
* Reduce the drawdown rate for the Edwards Aquifer by decreasing
the long term water consumption of Schertz water consumers.
* Ensure that all water consumers in the Schertz region have
adequate water resources to maintain public health, safety, and
welfare.
* Provide all citizens with the opportunity to voluntarily reduce
their water demand.
* Implement the plan fairly and in a manner that preserves, to
the greatest extent possible, the aesthetic qualities and
economic development opportunities of Schertz.
PLAN
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STAGE I-WATER AWARENESS - 644 FEET
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1. Voluntary reduction of use by 10%.
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2. Initiate education program promoting water conservation.
Activities would include:
* speaker's bureau
* native species landscape program
* citizen workshops
* public service' announcements, circulars, brochures, displays,
etc., on water conservation techniques
* explanation of other stages in conservation program
* telephone hotline
* distribution of conservation kits
3. Build network among organizations with water conservation
interests, media and civic, service and professional groups.
4. Develop special water use provisions for the municipal
fountains, municipal pools, and activities for maintenance of
public health, safety, and welfare.
5: Investigate opportunities for water reuse and recycling and
initiate appropriate action.
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6. Initiate program with water purveyors and companies to improve
the efficiency and reduce waste in water distribution sy~tems.
Activities would include:
* leak detection and repair
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* meter maintenance and total customer metering
7. Identify and eliminate restraints to water conservation.
8. Monitor use of water from fire hydrants and lines and enforce
use restrictions.
9. Encourage citizens not to waste water. Waste is defined as:
* allowing water to run off to a gutter, ditch, or drain
* failure to repair a controllable leak
* washing sidewalks, driveways, parking areas, tennis courts,
patios or other paved areas, except'to alleviate immediate fire
hazards or to maintain the public health, safety, and welfare.
STAGE 2-WATER WATCH (VOLUNTARY CONSERVATION) - 628 FEET
1. Reduce consumption by 15%.
2. Continue education program, coordination activities, special
use provisions, reuse and recycling program, fire hydrant and
line monitoring and programs with water purveyors and
compan1es. ~
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3. Request water customers not to waste water.
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4. Request that irrigation be limited to the hours of 7:00 pm to
10:00 am.
5. Request that washing of automobiles, trucks, trailers, boats,
airplanes and other equipment be done with a hand held hose or
hand held bucket. Hand held hoses should be equipped with a
positive shutoff nozzle. Washing may occur on the immediate
premises of a commercial washing facility.
6. Request commercial nurseries, commercial sod farms and other
similar establishments to curtail all non-essential water use.
7. Request that restaurants not serve water to customers except
when specifically requested by the customer.
8. Work with industrial customers to develop and implement
individual water conservation plans.
9. Request golf courses to irrigate between the hours of 7:00 pm
to 10:00 am and to reduce watering of tees, fairways and
roughs.
10. Request that non~recirculating fountains be shut off and that
recirculating fountains be operated only during low
evaporation periods.
STAGE 3-WATER ALERT (MANDATORY CONSERVATION) - 612 FEET
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1. Reduce consumption use by 25%.
2. In addition to the standard rates for water use there will
be an additional draught surcharge of two dollars <$ 2.00)
per thousand gallons used per motnh in excess of fifteen
thousand gallons (15,000) for all residential users.
3. Continue education program, coordination activities, special
use prOV1Slons, reuse and recycling program, fire hydrant and
line monitoring and programs with water purveyors and
companies.
4. Prohibit "waste".
5. Limit irrigation to the hours of 7:00 pm to 10:00 am with
hand held hose or hand held bucket. Hand held hoses shall be
- equipped with a positive shutoff nozzle. Automatic sprinkler
systems may be used from the hours of 6:00 am to 10:00 am.
6. Require that non-commercial washing 9f automobiles, trucks,
trailers, boats, airplanes and oth~r mobile equipment be done
with a hand held hose or hand held'bucket. Hand held hoses
shall be equipped with ~ positive shutoff nozzle.
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7. Limit commercial washing of automobiles, trucks, trailers,
boats, airplanes and other mobile equipment to the immediate
premises of a commercial washing facility and to the hours of
12:00 noon to 6:00 pm.
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8. Prohibit restaurants from serving water to customers except
when specifically requested by the customer.
9. Limit watering at commercial nurseries, commercial sod farms
and other similar establishments to the hours of 6:00 am to
10:00 am and with hand held hose, hand held bucket or drip
irrigation system.
10. Prohibit planting of new lawns.
11. Require industrial customers to implement individual water
conservation plans.
12. Limit golf course watering to tees and greens between the
hours of 7:00 pm and 10:00 am.
13. Prohibit non-recirculating fountains at all times, and
recirculating fountains between 12:00 noon to 6:00 pm.
14. Implement lawn"irrigation schedule.
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STAGE 4-WATER RISK (MANDATORY CONSERVATION) - DISCRETIONAR~
1. Reduce consumption by 30%.
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2. In addition to standard rates and surcharge stated in stage 3
there will be an additional surcharge of three dollars
per thousand gallons used per month in excess of
thousand gallons (13,000) for all residential users.
($3.00)
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3. Prohibit all non-essential water uses, or uses not necessary
to maintain the public health, safety, and welfare. Such non-
essential water uses may include, for example:
* irrigation, except plant stock at commercial nurseries,
commercial sod farms and other similar establishments where
STAGE 3 restrictions remain applicable
* washing automobiles, trucks, trailers, boats, airplanes, and
other mobile equipment
* watering of golf ~ourses, except greens between the hours of
6:00 am to 10:00am
* non-fire fighting uses from fire hydrants and lines
* fountains
4. Implement involuntary water use reduction measures such as:
* rationing
* pressure reduction
5. Implement additional measures as required.
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IMPLEMENTATION AND STAGING CRITERIA
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Upon adoption of the Water Conservation Plan by the City Council,
the City Manager or his designate shall determine when conditions
warrant implementation and termination of the plan. The order to
implement and/or terminate the various stages of the plan shall
be made by public announcement and shall be published a minimum
of one (1) time in the official City newspaper of general
publication.
The staging criteria for each stage shall be as follows:
STAGE 1. Water Awareness. Initiated when the water level 1n the
Bexar County observation well is at 644 feet. Terminated at the
discretion of the City Manager in consultation with the Edwards
Underground Water District considering the existing water level,
current and the outlook for additional precipitation. (It is
anticipated that a water awareness program will become an ongoing
City activity.)
STAGE 2. Water Watch. Initiated when the water level in the Bexar
County observation well i,.s at 628 :.. 'feet. Terminated at the
discretion of the City Mati~ger in consultation with the Edwards
Underground Water District considering the existing water level,
current precipitation and the outlook for additional
precipitation. Upon';'termination STAGE 1 becomes effective.
STAGE 3. Water Warning. Initiated when the water level in the
Bexar County observation well is at 612 feet. Terminated~at the
discretion of the City Manager in consultation with the Edwards
Underground Water District considering the existing water level,
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current precipitation and the outlook for additional
precipitation. Upon termination, STAGE 2 becomes effective.
STAGE 4. Water Emergency. Initiated at the discretion of the City
Council upon recommendation by the City Manager to maintain the
public health, safety, and welfare. Terminated at the discretion
of the City Council upon recommendation by the City Manager in
consultation with the Edwards Underground Water District
considering the existing water level, current precipitation and
the outlook for additional precipitation. Upon termination, STAGE
3 becomes effective.
STAGE 5. Water Emergency-Mandatory Rationing. Additional draught
measures as determined by the City of Schertz and Edwards
Underground Water District to~human health and safety and live
stock watering. ~~+~~
Stage 5 A. Water Emergency-Mandatory Rationing. Natural disaster
and/or mechanical failure damaging the water production
facilities, storage tanks and/or distribution system.
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* Implement water use surcharge and~~ater rationing schedule.
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* Prohibit all non-essential water uses or uses not necessary to
maintain the public health and welfare.
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GLOSSARY
connection a user
distribution system.
obtaining
water
from
an
organized
demand reduction measures - specific actions which will be taken
to reduce the demand on the aquifer during droughts.
downstream water rights - the right to use State water downstream
from,the Edwards Aquifer.
drought - a period of shortage of precipitation of seasonal or
longer duration.
industrial users - water users who pump more than 50,000 gpd and
where the water is an integral part of the production process in
addition to drinking and sanitary water users: industrial users
use water for such process purposes as cooling, boiler feed,
cleaning and washing, pollution control; and extraction and
separation of desirable materials from 'by-products and waste
materials. Some industrial users incorporate water into the
final product such as in th~ production of food and beverage
products. '
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livestock cattle, sheep, goats, hogs, poultry, horses, and
game, domestic, zoo, a~d Sea World animals.
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medical uses includes hospitals, nursing
centers, and outpatient surgical centers;
offices and medical office centers.
homes, emergency
excludes doctors
miscellaneous users water users, other than municipal,
industrial, and irrigated agriculture users, who pump more than
50,000 gpd. -"
trigger conditions
determine when drought
actions necessary.
monitored
conditions
hydrolic parameters which
are present and response
water waste - allowing water to runoff into a gutter, ditch or
drain, or failing to repair a controllable leak.
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