Sunday, Dec 2, 2012
Garza County News

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City Enters Drought Contingency July 1

Recent rains not enough to relieve drought conditions

Published June 21, 2012 @ 11:01 a.m.
Updated June 29, 2012 @ 12:51 p.m.

Guided by action taken by the White River Water District, the City of Post will initiate Stage Two of a Drought Contingency plan beginning July 1.  The goal of this plan is to achieve a 10 percent reduction in total water use.

Unless we continue to receive rainfall which eliminates the need to water vegitation, residents will be affected most by an "even day, odd day" plan for watering "lawns, gardens and landscape."  Beginning July 1, City of Post water customers with addresses ending in an even number may water on even-numbered days of the month only during the following times: 6:00 p.m. to 10:00 a.m. the following day.  Water customers with addresses ending in an odd number may water on odd-numbered days of the month only during the following times: 6:00 p.m. to 10:00 a.m. the following day.  Unattended sprinkling is prohibited as is allowing water run off from vegetated areas onto streets, sidewalks, parking lots, etc.

When performing activities such as washing vehicles, you must use a nozzle that controls the flow of water or a bucket.  In addition draining and filling swimming pools will be prohibited. 

See the entire Stage Two Drought Contingency for the City of Post, including penalties for violation below: 

Moderate water shortage conditions.  (Stage Two)

(A)     Goal: achieve a 10 percent reduction in total water use.

(B)     The city manager, or his designee(s), will initiate weekly contact with large volume water customers to discuss water supply and/or demand conditions and request large volume customers to initiate mandatory measures to reduce nonessential water use.

(C)     Publicize a mandatory restriction of nonessential water use. All water uses that are nonessential
must be restricted as set forth herein. Nonessential water uses shall include, but are not necessarily limited to, the following:

    (i)     Washing of windows, sidings, eves and roof with a hose, and without the use of a bucket and cutoff valve.

    (ii)    Washing of vehicles without cutoff valve and bucket.

    (iii)    Unattended sprinkling of grass, gardens and landscape shrubs.

    (iv)    Allowing water to run off vegetated areas onto streets, sidewalks, parking lots, etc.

    (v)     Draining and filling swimming pools.

    (vi)    Flushing of water systems, except to remove contaminated water.

(D)     Publicize a schedule for mandatory outdoor use of water for lawn, garden and landscape irrigation as
follows:

    (i)     Customers with addresses ending in an even number (2, 4, 6, 8, 0) may water on even-numbered days of the month only during the following times: 6:00 p.m. to 10:00 a.m. the following day.

    (ii)     Customers with addresses ending in an odd number (1, 3, 5, 7, 9) may water on odd-numbered days of the month only during the following times: 6:00 p.m. to 10:00 a.m. the following day.

    (iii)     Entities which have parcels of property either with no addresses or two addresses shall be designated by the city manager whether the property will be watered on either an even number or odd number schedule and may water only during the following times: 6:00 p.m. to 10:00 a.m. the following day.

(E)     The city manager, or his designee(s), will provide a weekly report to the city council and news media
with information regarding current water supply and/or demand conditions, projected water supply and demand conditions if drought conditions persist, and consumer information on water conservation measures and practices.

Enforcement

(a)     Penalty.
Any person, firm or corporation violating any provision of the mandatory water restriction measures (moderate, severe or emergency conditions), as set forth in section 13.04.069, and which have been formally initiated by city manager and contained in the drought contingency plan, shall be deemed guilty of a misdemeanor and, upon conviction in the municipal court, shall be punished as set forth herein for each offense. Each and every day any such violation shall continue shall be deemed to constitute a separate offense.

(b)     First violation. Customer will be notified of their specific violation. Customer will be given up to 72 hours from date of notice, with the time of the notice serving as the start of the 72-hour period, to comply with the conditions set forth in the notice. At the end of said 72-hour period if the violation continues then the violation will be considered a second violation.

(c)     Second violation.

    (1)     A second violation will mean:

    (A)     The customer has prior receipt of a first violation notification; or

    (B)     The customer has received a first violation notification and said 72-hour compliance period associated with the first violation notification has expired signifying a second violation.

    (2)     After notice of second violation, the city will assess the customer a fine of fifty dollars ($50.00) for each 24-hour period of violation of the second violation offense, with the 24-hour period starting at the time of notification of second violation. Customer will be given up to 72 hours from date of notice of second violation, with the time of the notice serving as the start of the 72-hour period, to comply with the conditions set forth in this article. At the end of the 72-hour period if the violation continues then the violation will be considered a subsequent violation.

(d)     Subsequent violation.

   (1)     A subsequent violation will mean:

   (A)     The customer has prior receipt of a second violation notification; or

   (B)     The customer has received a second violation notification and said 72-hour compliance period associated with the second violation notification has expired signifying a subsequent violation; or

   (C)     The customer has received a subsequent violation notification.

   (2)     After notice of subsequent violation(s), the city will assess the customer a fine of two hundred dollars ($200.00) for each 24-hour period of violation of the  subsequent violation offense, with the 24-hour period starting at the time of notification of subsequent violation.

(Ordinance 600 adopted 8/11/09)

 
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