§ 25.105. Phase III Water Supply Shortage - Emergency condition.

A Phase III Water Supply Shortage condition is also referred to as an "Emergency" condition. A Phase III condition exists when the City of Vernon declares a water shortage emergency or when the City Council determines that the City will suffer a shortage of more than fifty (50%) percent of its normal water supplies. Upon the declaration of a Phase III Water Supply Shortage condition, the City shall notify its residents and businesses that a significant reduction in consumer demand is necessary to maintain sufficient water supplies for public health and safety and shall implement the mandatory Phase III conservation measures identified in this section.

In addition to the prohibited uses of water identified in sections 25.101, 25.103 and 25.104, the following water conservation requirements apply during a declared Phase III Water Supply Shortage Emergency:

(a) No watering or irrigating: Watering or irrigating of lawn, landscape or other vegetated area with potable water is prohibited. This restriction does not apply to the following categories of use, unless the City has determined that recycled water is available and may be applied to the use:

(1) Maintenance of vegetation, including trees and shrubs, that are watered using a hand-held bucket or similar container, handheld hose equipped with a positive self-closing water shut-off nozzle or device;

(2) Maintenance of existing landscape necessary for fire protection;

(3) Maintenance of existing landscape for soil erosion control;

(4) Maintenance of plant materials identified to be rare or essential to the well-being of protected species;

(5) Maintenance of landscape within active public playing fields and school grounds, provided that such irrigation does not exceed two (2) days per week according to the schedule established in section 25.104(a) and the time restrictions as established in section 25.103(a);

(6) Actively irrigated environmental mitigation projects.

(b) Obligation to fix leaks, breaks or malfunctions: All leaks, breaks, or other malfunctions in the water user's plumbing or distribution system must be repaired within twenty-four (24) hours of notification by the City unless other arrangements are made with the City.

(c) Commercial nurseries watering limitations: Commercial nurseries shall be prohibited from watering lawn, landscaped or other turf areas more often than every third (3rd) day and shall be prohibited from watering between the hours of 6:00 a.m. and 6:00 p.m.

(d) Mandatory water restrictions: No customer shall make, cause, use or permit the use of City water for any purpose in excess of seventy-five (75%) percent of the amount used the same corresponding monthly billing period two (2) years preceding the City Council declaring a Phase I Water Supply Shortage. In the case of a newly established business, no restriction shall be required until such time that the business has been established for one (1) year, at which time the preceding year's corresponding monthly billing period shall be used to determine the businesses monthly water consumption.

(e) Fire hydrant use: The use of water from a fire hydrant shall be limited to fire fighting and related activities. Other uses of City water for municipal purposes shall be limited to activities necessary to maintain the public health, safety and welfare.

(f) Customer water conservation report: The City may, by written request, require all commercial and industrial customers using 100 acre feet or more per year of potable water to submit a water conservation plan and quarterly progress reports on such plan. The conservation plan shall include recommendations for increased water savings, including increased water recycling based on feasibility. The quarterly report shall include progress to date on implementation of such recommendations.

(Ord. No. 995, App. A; Ord. No. 1115, § 5; Ord. No. 1161, Exh. A.)