§ 122-263. Water use schedule during declared drought response levels.

Within five days of receipt of notice from EPD of a drought response level declared pursuant to their rules for drought management, specifically 391-3-30-.05, the county shall implement the applicable drought response strategies listed below.

(a)

Drought response level 1.

(1)

The county shall implement a public information campaign that shall include, at a minimum, public notice regarding drought conditions and drought specific public-service messages in one or more of the following ways: newspaper advertisements, bill inserts, website homepage, social media, and notices in public libraries.

(b)

Drought response level 2. During drought response level 2, the county shall implement all drought response level 1 measures plus the following additional drought response level 2 measures:

(1)

General outdoor watering. Outdoor irrigation for purposes of planting, growing, managing, or maintaining ground cover, trees, shrubs, or other plants, shall be limited to two days a week on an odd-even schedule. Even numbered addresses may irrigate on Wednesday and Saturday between the hours of 4:00 p.m. and 10:00 a.m. Odd numbered addresses may irrigate on Thursday and Sunday between the hours of 4:00 p.m. and 10:00 a.m.

(2)

Specific categories of outdoor water use. The outdoor water uses listed in section 122-262 shall be allowed.

(3)

The following outdoor water uses shall not be allowed, except as provided below:

a.

Washing hard surfaces such as streets, gutters, sidewalks and driveways, except when necessary for public health and safety;

b.

Using water for ornamental purposes, such as fountains, reflecting pools, and waterfalls;

c.

Use of fire hydrants, except for the purposes of firefighting, public health, safety, or flushing;

d.

Washing vehicles, such as cars, boats, trailers, motorbikes, airplanes, or golf carts;

e.

Non-commercial washing, or pressure washing, of buildings or structures, except for immediate fire protection; and

f.

Charity, or non-commercial fund-raiser, car washes.

(4)

The county shall select and implement four or more additional practices from the drought response strategies menu in paragraph (d) below. The county shall submit monthly reports to the GAEPD by the 10th of each following month detailing the drought response strategies the county water system has selected, the extent of implementation, and enforcement strategy, if applicable.

(c)

Drought response level 3. During drought response level 3, the county shall implement all drought response level 1 and 2 measures plus the following additional drought response level 3 measures:

(1)

General outdoor watering. Outdoor irrigation for purposes of planting, growing, managing, or maintaining ground cover, trees, shrubs, or other plants is not permitted.

(2)

Specific categories of outdoor water use. The outdoor water uses listed in section 122-262 shall be allowed, subject to the following additional requirements:

a.

Irrigation of personal food gardens shall be conducted between the hours of 4:00 p.m. and 10:00 a.m., unless done using drip irrigation or soaker hoses. Irrigation of personal food gardens using drip irrigation or soaker hoses may be done at any time;

b.

Handwatering with a hose with automatic shut off or handheld container may be conducted between the hours of 4:00 p.m. and 10:00 a.m.;

c.

Irrigation of athletic fields or public turf grass recreational areas may be conducted between the hours of 4:00 p.m. and 10:00 a.m., subject to the two days a week odd-even schedule described in drought response level 2;

d.

Irrigation of golf courses shall be conducted in accordance with the "golf irrigation prediction and estimation worksheet" and only between the hours of 4:00 p.m. and 10:00 a.m., provided, however, irrigation of golf course greens may occur at any time of day;

e.

Use of reclaimed wastewater by a designated user shall not be allowed for general outdoor watering. It shall be allowed for any use described in section 122-262; and

f.

Installation, maintenance, or calibration of irrigation systems is allowed, provided that it is done by professional landscapers or golf course superintendents.

(3)

The county shall implement all practices from the drought response strategies menu in paragraph (d) below.

(4)

Numeric water usage reduction requirements.

a.

In severe shortages GAEPD may establish numeric reduction requirements for public water systems whose monthly average water use is greater than one million gallons per day. The county water system is required to comply with numeric usage reductions. At that time additional water use restrictions and measures may be developed at the direction of the county manager.

(d)

Drought response strategies menu.

(1)

Public information campaign that goes significantly beyond the minimum notice and public service messages associated with drought response level 1;

(2)

Glasses of water provided to restaurant customers only upon request;

(3)

Distribute retrofit kits and water saving devices to customers. These kits and devices may include, but not be limited to, shower heads, leak dye tabs, toilet tank displacement devices, and hose shut off nozzles;

(4)

Technical assistance outreach program to target high users to identify and/or recommend opportunities to reduce water usage;

(5)

Reduce water distribution system pressure, unless such reduction would create unsafe water supply conditions;

(6)

Pool cover requirements;

(7)

Implement a drought surcharge program, or tiered conservation rates;

(8)

Suspension of street cleaning program(s);

(9)

Implement, or accelerate, leak detection and repair program(s); and

(10)

Impose monetary penalties or terminate water services to customers to reduce outdoor water waste due to excessive application, outdoor leaks, improper irrigation, or other similar reasons.

(e)

Professional exemptions. The following commercial outdoor water uses are exempt from the outdoor water use restrictions of this section:

(1)

Pressure washing;

(2)

Permanent car wash facility, provided that it is connected to a sanitary sewer system of a political subdivision or local government authority or recycles used wash water;

(3)

Construction sites;

(4)

Watering-in of pesticides and herbicides on turf; and

(5)

Other activities essential to daily business.

(Ord. of 7-27-04; Amd. of 2-22-11; Amd. of 2-23-16)