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HomeMy WebLinkAbout14-3611 ordORDINANCE AMENDMENT ORDINANCE NO. 14-3611 AN ORDINANCE AMENDING ARTICLE 13.05, WATER CONSERVATION/DROUGHT CONTINGENCY PLAN, OF THE CITY OF PLAINVIEW CODE OF ORDINANCES; CUMULATIVENESS CLAUSE; REPEALER; CONFLICTS CLAUSE; SEVERABILITY CLAUSE; AND EFFECTIVE DATE. WHEREAS, the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality requires under the Texas Administrative Code, Title 30, Chapter 288, that certain language be included in the City of Plainview's Water Conservation and Drought Contingency Plans; and WHEREAS, the City Council of the City of Plainview, Texas determined that a need exists and it is in the best public interest of the City to amend the Water Use Management Plan, also known as the Water Conservation and Drought Contingency Plan, as provided in Ordinance No. 07-3483; and WHEREAS, the City Council finds and declares that a sufficient written notice of the date, hour, place and subject of this meeting of the City Council was posted at a designated place convenient to the public at the City Hall for the time required by law preceding this meeting and that such place of posting was readily accessible at all times to the general public; and WHEREAS, the City Council desires to evidence its approval of the amendments to the City of Plainview's Water Use Management Plan and adopt the amended plan as an official policy of the City. NOW, THEREFORE, The City of Plainview hereby ordains that: SECTION I Article 13.05, Water Conservation/Drought Contingency Plan, City of Plainview Code of Ordinances is amended as follows: Sec. 13.05.001 Adopted Adoption of Water Conservation /Drought Contingency Plan. The City Council hereby approves and adopts }♦ as the ,., teF , -^Rema} nn rtkan_ the Ater rn nrrtnl�t�r5rt�r�rr5�ir-�i-�� GA 4RgeAG -plan.-set.-out in-dd is�anr `} Rd 3 rtf this aFt+lse Cit of Plainview Water �U�".7s'e Management Plan the followinq Water Ord. No. 14-3611 water conservation Plan Page 1 of 13 A** Conservation and Drought Contingency Plans as set forth below. S..e ifi -,k +w.n s4W o..ill „+ be +.." ainta+Ade ily.' r. d erna d - at - o -r. beiewtat eyste — saef emes-4-u&-to equipment WIure, the water s�ste;m�,1-be this ntiR� ed The City commits to implementing this program according to the procedures set forth in the adopted plans. Sec. 13.05.002. Purpose (q) The purpose of the Water Use Management Plan_ is to promote the wise and responsible use of water, to enhance the sustainability of long-term water supplies, and to minimize the adverse impacts of water supply_ emergencies by providing and supporting public information and education programs that encourage customers to voluntarily pursue water conservation and protection measures in both residential and business activities; by developing, maintaining_ and enforcing water management policies and ordinances; by implementing structural programs that result in quantifiable water conservation results; and by implementing a drought/emergency contingency plan when necessary to ensure adequate water supplies for public health and safety. The City's service area is located within the Llano Estacado Regional Water Planning Area of the Texas Water Development Board, and the City shall report to the Llano Estacado Regional Water Planning Group annually to assure consistency with the regional water plan. (c) The City will implement a detailed 121an for each of the four steps in the Drought Contingency Measures, including water use strategies. - The target of these strategies will be to maintain daily water demand at or below 70 percent of the available water production capability. In the event of severe drought or major infrastructure failures, certain water uses may be banned by the Citv Manager or his/her designee. Sec. 13.05.003. Definitions The following words and phrases as used in this Ordinance shall have the meanings respectively ascribed to them in this section unless the context clear) indicates otherwise: Aesthetic water use -- Water use for ornamental or decorative purposes such as fountains, reflecting pools, and water gardens. Conservation - Those practices, techniques, and technologies that reduce the consumption of water, reduce the loss or waste of water, improve efficiency in the use Ord. No. 14-3611 water conservation Pian Page 2 of 13 • s • • of water or increase the recycling and reuse of water so that a supply is conserved and made available for future or alternative use. Customer -- Any individual, corporation partnership, association, and any other legal entity utilizing water provided by the City of Plainview. Domestic water use — Water use for personal needs or for household or sanitary purposes such as drinking, bathing, heating, cooking, sanitation, or for cleaning a residence, business, industry, or institution, except as provided under the definition of nonessential water use. Drought — An extended period of time of below normal precipitation rainfall snow, etc. Landscape irrigation use -- Water use for irrigation and maintenance of landscaped areas, whether publicly or privately owned, including residential and commercial lawns, gardens, golf courses, parks, and rights-of-way and medians. Nonessential water use — Nonessential water use consists of washing house windows, sidings, eaves, and roof with hose, and without the use of a bucket: washing driveways, streets curbs and utters• washing vehicles without cutoff valve and bucket; unattended sprinkling of landscape shrubs and -grass, draining and filling swimming pools: and flushing water system. Sec. 13.05.031 -aR4 4R#er-mati ne Water Conservation Plan The Water Conservation Plan, as adopted by the City, consists of the following: (a) Continuing Public Education and Information Programs: The City of Plainview will inform the city users of various recommended methods for implementing a reduction in water consumption. The City will provide talks and programs to schools and civic organizations along with distributing materials which are available from the Texas Water Development Board and other agencies in accordance with City of Plainview Administrative Policy on Water Conservation Plan Continuing Education and Information Programs. (bl Plumbing Codes: The State Law requires that population of 5,000 or more adopt a standard plumbing plumbing code for new construction and for replacemen existing structures. The City of Plainview has adopted Ord. No. 14-3511 water Conservation Plan cities and utilities with a code or a water saving t of plumbing fixtures in the 2009 edition of the Page 3 of 13 1 International Plumbing Code as adopted by the International Code Council. The City limits residential meters (including sprinkler systems) to one inch or smaller, which tends to discourage excess water use and encourage conservation. (c) Water Conservation Retrofit Program: Title V of the Health and Safety Code, Chapter 372 requires that businesses stock and sell only plumbing fixtures which conform to water saving performance standards. This will ensure that plumbing fixtures installed during new construction and remodeling will be of the conservation oriented type. The City of Plainview will advise customers regarding retrofit devices (such as low -flow shower heads, toilet dams, faucet aerators, etc.) that reduce water use by replacing or modifying existing fixtures. (d) Conservation Oriented Water Rate Structure: The City has adopted an ascending block rate structure, which will further discourage the wasteful use of large quantities of water. The City is now relating sewer charges to water consumption, with a 14,000 gallon ceiling on single family residential. awe, ef�ceeraftes watef sensefvahori. (e) Universal Metering and Meter Repair and Replacement: All connections to the water supply system in Plainview are metered. The City is testing and replacing meters on an on-going basis, concentrating on the largest meters first. Meter readers classify the apparent conditions of all City meters, and repairs are initiated in areas with poor classification. Universal metering will continue after adoption of this Plan. (1) Plainview's production meters are located at the booster pump stations, at the City's groundwater storage tanks, at the water treatment plant, and on groundwater wells that pump directly into the distribution system. The City uses these meters to report its groundwater production. Tlie�;e met is- are tested and calibrated aRR�JA. (2) Service meters larger than two inches (2") will be tested every two years. Service meters two inches (2") and smaller will be tested at least every ten years. Plainview has installed a service meter to measure water used for backwash at the water treatment plant. (f) Water Conserving Landscaping: Educational material will include information relating to low water use landscaping. The City reviews and approves subdivision plans. At the time building permits are acquired, developers will be provided with literature pertaining to low water demand landscaping items. Nurseries and local businesses will also be provided with this literature. (g) Leak Detection and Repair: The City's system uses a 12 -month moving total Ord. No. 14-3611 water conservation Plan Page 4 of 13 of water treated and pumped versus water sold in order to assess more accurately the amount of unaccounted for water losses in the system. The average unaccounted for water f, e =4 wra-4-`i-2° -e#- the annusl­ wateF PFqdUGtiqR has ranged from 11 % to 15% in previous years. Leaks that go unreported for extended periods of time or large pipe failures that make for difficult estimates of total water loss can skew these numbers from year to year. The City of Plainview will continue to refine our methods of calculating water loss due to these issues to better understand our actual unaccounted for water loss. (1) Plainview has almost immediate response to reports of water leaks, which minimizes water waste. The City is conducting audits to identify connections which bypass city meters and correct those which are found. (2) The City of Plainview will continue to monitor monthly consumption. Classification of meter condition provides a reliable and effective leak detection program. The City is also aware that assistance in leak detecting surveys can be obtained from the Texas Water Development Board Staff. (h) Specific Quantified 5 & 10 Year Targets. The City's average daily water usage is approximately 211 qlpcd. The City of Plainview continues throucih a drought of record requiring chan es for future needs in the City's water usage. Notwithstanding changes in the Plainview water usage, Plainview citizens and businesses can reduce water usage by implementing water conservation practices._ The City's water conservation oals are to: M Reduce annual per capita water usage to 21-4 206 gallons per person per day (or by 2.5 percent) by the year 2018. (2) Reduce annual per capita water use to 2 200 _gallons per person per day (or by 5 percent) by the year 2023. This should be accomplished through education and information programs, a conservation retrofit program, conservation oriented water rate structure and metering as well as a meter repair and replacement program. (i) Recycling and Reuse. The City of Plainview will investigate reuse and recycling programs where legally possible and economically feasible. Thee City GH ptly-reeycles-all -water-used#er-filter- kwash at the water- +�atr-Rt „pant This a R,9Unt ye eSt:,_,ated at n.6gmit A I AQ Qto {OGG gallaes- r ay+. Water reclamation at the wastewater treatment plant is being considered by the City. Proposed uses will be plant wash -down water, on-site irrigation, and possible off-site irrigation. 0) Pro Rata Water Allocation. In the event that the triggering criteria in level "3" (Severe Drought Conditions), as specified in Threshold Conditions of the Drought Contingency Plan have been met, the City Manager is hereby authorized to initiate ord. No. 14-3611 Water Conservation Plan Page 5 of 13 In 91 allocation of water supplies on a pro. rata basis in accordance with Texas Water Code Section 11.039. (k) Implementation and Enforcement. The City of Plainview, through its staff, will implement the Water Conservation Plan in accordance with the City Council's adoption of the Plan, plumbing codes, and revisions thereof as set out in this Plan. Plainview also maintains the authority to inspect any and all connections by Seth Ward Water Supply Corporation customers to the water distribution system located past the delivery point of the Corporation's water system. (1) Contract with Other Political Subdivisions. Any political subdivision and/or wholesale customer applying for new or renewed water contracts from the City of Plainview must have (1) an approved Water Conservation and Drought Contingency Plan in effect, or (2) must officially adopt applicable provisions of the City of Plainview Water Conservation and Drought Contingency Plan. In addition, every wholesale water contract entered into or renewed after adoption of the Plan, including contract extensions, must agree that in case of a water shortage resulting from drought, the water to be distributed shall be divided in accordance with Texas Water Code, § 11.039. Sec. 13.05.032. Drought Contingency and Emergency Plan The Drought Contingency Plan, as adopted by the City, is as follows: (a) Threshold Conditions. The Texas Water Development Board suggests four levels or "trigger conditions" for determining the degree of urgency for initiation of a Drought Contingency Plan. The "triggering criteria" .below are based on an evaluation of the historical water system capacities and customer use patterns as well as a consideration of the impact of drought, emergencies, and high use upon capacities and patterns. These four levels as they relate to the City of Plainview, and are as follows: (1) Mild water shortage occurs when: (i) the average daily water consumption reaches approximately 70% 00% of the available water production capacity, and has been that high for a period of three days; and (ii) weather conditions indicate that high use is likely to continue. (2) Moderate water shortage conditions are reached when: (i) the average daily water consumption reaches approximately 80% 100% of the rated available water production capacity for a three day period; (ii) weather conditions indicate mild water shortage will exist for five days or more; or (iii) a mechanical failure of pumping Ord. No. 14-3611 water Conservation Plan Page 6 of 13 92 equipment which will require more than 24 hours to repair occurs when a mild water shortage is in progress. (3) Severe water shortage classification is reached when: (i) average daily water consumption reaches approximately 90% -1441% of available water production capacity for a period of three days a 4 , (ii) average daily water consumption will not enable storage levels to be maintained, (iii) system demand exceeds available high service pump capacity, or (iv) a mechanical failure of pumping equipment which will require more than 12 hours to repair occurs when a moderate drought is in progress. (4) An Emergency Condition is declared when: (i) the CRMWA system fails, and the sUFfase water cannot be delivered to the City, (ii) the water system is contaminated either accidentally or intentionally, or (iii) the water system fails from acts of God (tornadoes, hurricanes, etc.) or man. An emergency condition is treated like a severe drought. (b) Water Shortage Contingency Measures. The City Manager, or his/her designee, shall monitor water supply and, in accordance with the triggering criteria set forth in Section 13.05.032(a), shall determine that mild, moderate, or severe water shortage conditions exist or that an emergency condition exists and shall implement the following Plan. The City shall notify the executive director of the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) as soon as possible to notify the director that mandatory provisions of this Plan have been implemented. (1) Step I. Curtailment shall be initiated upon existence of mild water shortage conditions and will include the following actions: (i) Develop Information Center and designate information person. (ii) Advise public of condition and publicize availability of information from the Information Center. (iii) Encourage voluntary reduction of water use. (iv) Contact commercial and industrial users and explain necessity for initiation of strict conservation methods. (v) Implement system oversight and make adjustments as required Ord. No. 14-3611 water conservation Plan Page 7 of 13 0�� to meet changing conditions. (vi) Target: Raise public awareness of the situation and maintain daily water demand at or below 70 L4percent of available water production capacity syWstem. (2) Step 11. Curtailment shall be initiated by the City Manager on h -i -s identifying moderate water shortage conditions. The listed actions are compulsory on users and are intended to prohibit non-essential water use. (i) Outdoor residential use of water will be permitted on alternate days. Even -numbered houses will use water for outdoor residential uses on even days of the month and odd -numbered houses on odd days of the month. Outdoor residential uses consist of washing vehicles, boats, trailers, landscape sprinkler systems and irrigation, recreational use of sprinklers, outside showers (in parks) and water slides. (ii) The City Manager, or his/her designee, will monitor system function and establish hours for outside water use, depending upon system performance. (iii) The Information Center and publicity elements shall keep the public advised of curtailment status. (iv) Commercial and industrial users will be visited to ensure that conservation measures have been initiated. (v)Target: Reduce and maintain daily water demand at or below 3 90 percent of available water production system capacity. (3) Step 111. Curtailment shall be initiated upon existence of a severe water shortage as determined by the City Manager_ The City Manager will ban the use of water for: (i) Vehicle washing, window washing, outside watering (lawn, shrubs, faucet dripping, garden, etc); (ii) Public water uses which are not essential for health, safety and sanitary purposes. These non-essential uses include: street washing, watering of parks, fire hydrant flushing, filling swimming pools, watering athletic fields and courses, and dust control Ord. No. 14•-3611 water Conservation Plan Page 8 of 13 sprinkling. (iii) Commercial uses not listed will be controlled to the extent dictated by the City Manager. (iv) Target: Reduce and maintain daily water demand at or below 90 percent of available water production, system capacity, or in any emergency condition of system outages due to equipment failure, temporarily discontinue water system operating. (4) Step IV curtailment shall be initiated by the City Manager on lois identifying an emergency condition. The listed actions are compulsory on users: (i) All aesthetic and nonessential water use, including landscape irrigation use, is prohibited, except where necessary to protect the health, safety, and welfare of the public. No new landscape material may be installed. (ii) All City of Plainview operations will adhere to the water use restrictions. (iii) The City may reduce water system pressure to conserve water. (c) Businesses requiring water as a basic function of their operation, such as nurseries, commercial car wash, laundromats, high pressure water cleaning, etc., will obtain written permission from the City Manager for intended water use. (d) The System Priority for water service shall be made based on the following priority list. (1) Hospitals (2) Residential (3) Schools (4) Industrial (5) Commercial (6) Recreational (e) Alternative Water Sources. The City of Plainview has two water sources: (i) water pumped by wells from the Ogallala Aquifer and (ii) water delivered to the City's Water Treatment Plant by Canadian River Municipal Water Authority (CRMWA). The wells are located in different areas of the City and are powered by different electrical sources. A portion of the wells should be operational at any given Ord. No. 14-3611 water conservation Plan Page 9 of 13 Wj time. The treatment plant can be completely operational without power provided by the electric company as long as water is supplied by CRMWA. With these two water sources, it is highly unlikely that both sources would be out at the same time. If that should happen, water would have to be trucked into the city from other sources. (f) Information and Education. The public will be made aware of water conservation and drought conditions by information and data transferred through the City's program. During periods of water shortage curtailment, Step I conditions wiil establish an information center, an information person, and utilize the most effective methods developed for information dissemination on a daily basis. Close observation of the first year information program should develop the most effective ways to communicate with customers. Posting notices, newspaper articles, radio coverage and direct mail to customers will be used during the first year activities. (g) Initiation Procedures. Initiation procedures for water shortage response are described in this Plan. Each condition will be met with corresponding action by the City Manager or his/her designee. The City will affect curtailment, give notice, publicize and follow-up with implementation of curtailment. (h) Termination Notification. Termination of each water shortage condition will begin when conditions have improved to the extent that an upgraded condition can be declared by the City Manager. This process will be employed until full service can be provided. System priority will be considered in returning to upgraded condition. Termination will be initiated by the City Manager by giving notice, etc., as was given to enact water shortage curtailment. (i) Variances. The City Manager, may, in writing, grant temporary variance for existing water uses otherwise prohibited under this Plan if it is determined that failure to grant such variance would cause an emergency condition adversely affecting the health, sanitation, or fire protection for the public or the person requesting such variance and if one or more of the following conditions are met: (1) Compliance with this Plan cannot be technically accomplished during the duration of the water supply shortage or other condition for which the Plan is in effect. (2) Alternative methods can be implemented which will achieve the same level of reduction in water use. 0) Exemptions. Persons requesting an exemption from the provisions of this Ordinance shall file a petition for variance with the City of Plainview within 5 days after Ord. Na. 14-3611 water Conservation Plan Page 10 of 13 991 the Plan or a particular water shortage response stage has been invoked. All petitions for variances shall be reviewed by the City Manager, and shall include the following: (1) Name and address of the petitioner(s). (2) Purpose of water use. (3) Specific provision(s) of the Plan from which the petitioner is requesting relief. (4) Detailed statement as to how the specific provision of the Plan adversely affects the petitioner or what damage or harm will occur to the petitioner or others if petitioner complies with this Ordinance. (5) Description of the relief requested. (6) Period of time for which the variance is sought. (7) Alternative water use restrictions or other measures the petitioner is taking or proposes to take to meet the intent of this Plan and the compliance date. (8) Other pertinent information. (k) Variances granted by the City of Plainview shall be subject to the following conditions, unless waived or modified by the City Manager: 0 (1) Variances granted shall include a timetable for compliance. (2) Variances granted shall expire when the Plan is no longer in effect, unless the petitioner has failed to meet specified requirements. No variance shall be retroactive or otherwise justify any violation of this Plan occurring prior to the issuance of the variance. (1) Modification, Deletion and Amendment. The City Manager can add, delete, and amend rules, regulations and implementation as needed/desired, and shall advise the City Council of such amendments at its regular or called meeting. (m) Means of Implementation. The City Manager is hereby authorized and directed to implement the applicable provisions of this plan. The City Manager will oversee the execution and implementation of all elements of the Plan to ensure that adequate records are kept for program verification. Section 13.05.033. Users of city water, except for the City, that do not comply_ with Ord. No. 14-3611 water Conservation Plan Page 11 of 13 97 Sections 13.05.031 and 13.05.032 of this Article shall be subject to a penalty and fine of not less than $10.00 per day, nor more than $200.00_oer day for each day of non- compliance and/or disconnection or discontinuance of water services to such users by the City. Secs. 13.05.034 -13.05.080. Reserved SECTION !1 Provisions of this Ordinance are cumulative and nothing herein shall prevent, alter, or diminish the applicability or enforcement of other ordinances restricting, regulating or governing the subject matter herein. SECTION III All ordinances or parts of ordinances inconsistent with any provisions of this ordinance are hereby repealed to the extent of such conflict, and the provisions of this ordinance shall be and remain controlling as to the matters regulated herein. SECTION IV All ordinances or portions of any ordinance of the City of Plainview, Texas in conflict herewith, are hereby amended to conform with the provisions hereof. SECTION V Severability is intended throughout and within this Article. If any provision, including any section, paragraph, sentence, clause, phrase or word or the application thereof to any person or circumstance is held invalid, unconstitutional, or unenforceable by a court of law or administrative agency with jurisdiction over the matter, such action shall not be construed to affect any other valid portion of this Ordinance. A constitutional construction hereof is intended and shall be given. There is not intent herein to violate either of the Texas Constitution or the Constitution of the United States. SECTION VI This Ordinance shall be in full force and effect upon its passage and publication as required by law. PASSED AND APPROVED on first reading this 24'" day of June, 2014. Ord. No. 14-3611 water conservation Plan Page 12 of 13 PASSED AND APPROVED on second reading this 8t' day of July, 2014. Wen !I Dun ap, Mayor ATTE T: Belinda Hinojosa, City S tary APPROVED AS TO CONTENT: Jeffrey S r, Cit anager APPROVED AS TO FORM: 1 Lesl a Spear, -M(y A orney Ord. No. 14-3611 water Conservation Plan page 13 of 13 0