Loading...
G-09-04-23-9B2 - 4/23/2009ORDINANCE NO.4 01' D��-- AN ORDINANCE AMENDING CHAPTER 10, SECTION 10.813, CODE OF ORDINANCES (1995 EDITION), CITY OF ROUND ROCK, TEXAS, REGARDING THE CITY'S WATERING SCHEDULE; AND PROVIDING FOR A SAVINGS CLAUSE AND REPEALING CONFLICTING ORDINANCES AND RESOLUTIONS. BE IT ORDAINED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF ROUND ROCK, TEXAS: I. That Chapter 10, Section 10.813, Code of Ordinances (1995 Edition), City of Round Rock, Texas, is hereby amended to read as follows: 10.813 CONSERVATION RESPONSE STAGES (1) Stage I -Voluntary Water Use Management (a) Stage I will begin on May 1st and end on September 30th of each year and at all other times when announced by the City Manager or as authorized by this Chapter. The Stage I announcement will be designed to increase Customer awareness of water conservation and encourage the most efficient use of water. A copy of the current public announcement on water conservation awareness shall be kept on file at the Utilities Department office for inspection by the Commission. (c) (c) Water Customers are requested to voluntarily limit the use of water for non- essential purposes and to practice water conservation. Voluntary observance of the regional five daytwice-per-week watering schedule is requested. (d) The twice -per -week watering schedule is hereby adopted and established as follows: (b) Type of Property Commercial Industrial/Multifamily Residential (Addresses ending in odd numbers) Residential (Addresses ending in even numbers) Watering Days Tuesday & Friday Tuesday & Friday Wednesday & Saturday Thursday & Sunday Watering hours are between 12:00 midnight and 10:00 a.m. and between 7:00 p.m. and 12:00 midnight on the designated watering day. Watering with a bucket or hand-held hose is permitted at any time and on any day. 0:\wdox\SCC1nts\0112\o9o5\MUNICIPAL\o0l5e367.Doc/m1 (ed) Target: Raise public awareness of the supply situation and achieve a three percent reduction in the daily water demand that would have occurred in the absence of any drought contingency or conservation measures. (2) Stage II Mandatory Water Use Management (a) When there is an announcement of Stage II by the City Manager, the following restrictions apply to all Customers of, or Persons who use water directly or indirectly from the City (except those Customers who use treated wastewater effluent or raw water), for the uses described below: (i) All outdoor irrigation by hose end sprinklers, soaker hoses, or drip irrigation may occur only in compliance with the twice -per -week watering schedule found in 10.813(1)(d) . All outdoor irrigation of vegetation by permanently installed automatic irrigation systems may occur only in compliance with the twice -per -week watering schedule found in 10.813(1)(d)between the hours of 12:00 • s. Irrigation by hand-held hoses or hand-held buckets is permitted anytime. The public is encouraged to wait until Stage II is terminated to establish new landscaping. The time restrictions do not apply to the irrigation of commercial plant nurseries; however, these establishments shall curtail all nonessential water use. (ii) The washing of automobiles, trucks, trailers, boats, airplanes, or other type of mobile equipment is prohibited except in compliance with the twice -per -week watering schedule found in 10.813(1)(d)en ed a.m. and between the hours of 7:00 p.m. and 12:00 midnight. The washing, when allowed, must be done with a hand-held bucket or a hand-held hose equipped with a positive shutoff nozzle for quick rinses. The nozzle must be removed when the hose is not is use. The washing of each individual automobile, truck, trailer, boat, airplane or any other type of mobile equipment in violation of the terms and conditions of this restriction constitutes a separate violation under this Section. However, this restriction does not apply to the washing of vehicles or mobile equipment when conducted on the immediate premises of a commercial carwash or a commercial service station. Furthermore, this restriction does not apply to the washing of automobiles, trucks, trailers, boats, airplanes and other types of mobile equipment (such as garbage trucks and vehicles used to transport food and perishables) when the washing is necessary on a more regular and frequent basis in order to protect the health, safety and welfare of the public. Charity carwashes are prohibited. (iii) The watering of the ground around foundations to prevent foundation cracking is prohibited except in compliance with the twice -per -week watering schedule found in 10.813(1)(d) t. 1.11 (iv) The refilling or adding of water to swimming or wading pools, or ponds, is prohibited. However, this restriction does not apply to public swimming pools and wading pools equipped with filtration and a recirculation system that includes the gutter drains or that are not using water from the City's water distribution system. However, public pools may not be filled if there are unrepaired leaks. (v) The operation of any ornamental fountain or other structure making similar use of water is prohibited except where necessary to support aquatic life. 2 (vi) The use of water for irrigation of golf fairways is prohibited except in compliance with the twice -per -week watering schedule found in 10.813(1)(d)- .. . 1:11 . .. .1. . 12:00 midnight. The irrigation of golf course greens and tees is allowed on an every -other -day schedule if a plan is filed detailing such schedule. These restrictions do not apply to the irrigation of any golf course which utilizes wastewater effluent, ground water or raw water. (vii) The use of water from fire hydrants shall be limited to firefighting - related activities or other activities necessary to maintain the health, safety, and welfare of the citizens of Round Rock; however, routine flushing of fire hydrants for other than health and safety reasons is prohibited. This restriction does not apply to businesses which require the use of water for land development and building construction processes. By written approval from the Director, the businesses may purchase and draw water from fire hydrants designated for that use by the Director. (viii) Street washing using potable water from hydrants is prohibited. Street washing may occur if reclaimed water is used. (ix) During Stage II restrictions, the City shall visually inspect lines and repair leaks on a daily basis; reduce or discontinue the flushing of water mains; discontinue the routine street cleaning programs; and consider activating inter -connects with other utility providers. (x) Potential alternate water sources for the City are identified as: a. Wells 7 and 9; and b. Inter -connection with the City of Austin or City of Georgetown. (xi) The following uses of water are prohibited: a. Failing to repair a controllable leak, such as broken sprinkler heads and leaking valves or faucets. b. Washing sidewalks, driveways, parking areas, streets, tennis courts, patios, or other paved areas, except to alleviate immediate health or fire hazards. c. Operating a permanently installed irrigation system with broken heads, with heads that are out of adjustment that spray more than ten percent (10%) of the spray on streets or parking lots, or that are misting. d. Allowing water to run off a property during irrigation, in the street or parking lot to a depth greater than 1/4 of an inch. (b) The Stage II restrictions do not apply to the following uses of water: (i) The necessary use of water, other than for landscape irrigation, by a governmental entity in pursuit of its governmental functions for the benefit of the public, such as for capital improvement construction projects. (ii) The necessary use of water, other than for landscape irrigation, for land development (such as roadway base preparation, flushing of utility lines, dust control, concrete and asphalt work) and for building construction processes. (iii) The necessary use of water for repair of water distribution facilities, residential and commercial plumbing and permanently installed landscape irrigation systems. (iv) The use of water necessary for the establishment of specially permitted landscaping in new, residential and commercial development should be postponed if at all possible. If the installation cannot be postponed, the irrigation schedule for the first thirty (30) days after installation on notification to the Director may not exceed the following frequency of irrigation: Days 1-10 Days 11-20 Days 21 - 30 After 30th day Once per day Once every other day Once every third day Standard restrictions apply Watering must take place during the permitted hours and, if the landscape cannot be sustained based on this schedule, installation should be postponed. (v) The necessary use of water for athletic fields for organized youth, amateur, or professional sports such as football, soccer or baseball where the field is in use or will be in use within sixty (60) days of the institution of Stage II restrictions. (c) Target: Achieve a five percent (5%) reduction in the daily water demand that would have occurred in the absence of any drought contingency or conservation measures. Stage III Emergency Water Use Management: The City Manager, or his or her designee, may implement the following restrictions to apply to all Customers or the City's water utility or to any Persons who use water directly or indirectly from the City's water utility, and to apply in the areas designated by the City Manager or his or her designee. The restrictions do not apply to any Customer using treated wastewater effluent or raw water for the uses described below. All elements of Stage II remain in effect in Stage III except that: (a) All outdoor irrigation of vegetation by hand-held hoses or hand-held watering cans may occur only in compliance with the twice -per -week watering schedule found in 10.813(1)(d) Irrigation is prohibited, including but not limited to foundation watering, using permanently installed irrigation systems, hose end irrigation, or drip irrigation. These restrictions are not applicable to the necessary use of water for irrigation of professional athletic fields. (b) The washing of automobiles, trucks, trailers, boats, airplanes, and other types of mobile equipment is prohibited, unless occurring on the immediate premises of a commercial carwash or a commercial service station and unless it is in the immediate interest of the public health, safety, and welfare. The washing of automobiles, trucks, trailers, boats, airplanes, and other types of mobile equipment may occur between 12:00 noon and 5:00 p.m. on the immediate premises of a commercial carwash or a commercial service station if it is in the immediate interest of the public health, safety and welfare. (c) Commercial plant nurseries may use only hand-held hoses, hand-held watering cans, or drip irrigation. (d) The filling, refilling, or adding of potable water to public swimming or wading pools is prohibited. (e) No new landscapes of any type may be established. (0 During Stage III restrictions the City shall visually inspect lines and repair leaks on a daily basis and discontinue the flushing of water mains except as needed for health and safety reasons. (g) Target: Achieve a seven percent (7%) reduction in the daily water demand that would have occurred in the absence of any drought contingency or conservation measures. II. A. All ordinances, parts of ordinances, or resolutions in conflict herewith are expressly repealed. B. The invalidity of any section or provision of this ordinance shall not invalidate other sections or provisions thereof. C. The City Council hereby finds and declares that written notice of the date, hour, place and subject of the meeting at which this Ordinance was adopted was posted and that such meeting was open to the public as required by law at all times during which this Ordinance and the subject matter hereof were discussed, considered and formally acted upon, all as required by the Open Meetings Act, Chapter 551, Texas Government Code, as amended. Alternative 1. By motion duly made, seconded and passed with an affirmative vote of all the Council members present, the requirement for reading this ordinance on two separate days was dispensed with. READ, PASSED, and ADOPTED on first reading this day of y "`, , 2009. Alternative 2. READ and APPROVED on first reading this the day of , 2009. 5 READ, APPROVED and ADOPTED on sec p id e -sing this the day of , 2009. ATTEST: 53'11144/1.AdOVEIZ. SARA L. WHITE, City Secretary City of Round Rock, Texas GIA -02-0, Mhyvw.r'b i 6 DATE: April 16, 2009 SUBJECT: City Council Meeting — April 23, 2009 ITEM: 9B2. Consider an ordinance amending Chapter 10, Section 10.813, Code of Ordinances, regarding the City's watering schedule. (First Reading) Department: Staff Person: Justification: Water & Wastewater Utilities Michael Thane, P.E., Director of Utilities The City of Round Rock wishes to change the current once every -5 -day summer irrigation (watering) schedule to a twice per week watering schedule. This would align Round Rock with the rest of the region in terms of its seasonal watering calendar. It is anticipated that a greater number of customers would follow the twice per week schedule during the summer months, as it is straightforward and easy to remember. Additionally this revised schedule provides an easier means of applying the LCRA, TAMU and TWDB recommended 1 -inch of water per week to the landscape, with Y2 -inch applied on each day. Funding: Cost: N/A Source of funds: N/A Outside Resources: N/A Background Information: The City of Round Rock currently promotes a seasonal once every -5 -day watering schedule from May 1 through September 30 of each year. The schedule's intent is to spread out our customer's outdoor water use and reduce peak day water use to ensure our water plant's capacity can meet customer demand. The current schedule is slightly difficult to follow, as the property's recommended watering day changes weekly. Although the schedule is voluntary, it is fairly clear that the schedule is not followed by customers. All nine houses that participated in the water conservation's irrigation system evaluation during this last month, were set to twice per week or more. The following entities promote a twice per week watering schedule: Austin, Cedar Park, Pflugerville, Georgetown, Hutto, Taylor, Kyle, Manville WSC, and the LCRA. Changing Round Rock's schedule would provide a more unified approach to the region's water use messages and conservation efforts. Public Comment: N/A