Stage 1 – Year-Round Conservation  

All well owners and/or users of groundwater will minimize the use of groundwater especially for non-essential uses year-round through good water use and water conservation practices. Automatic sprinklers shall not be operated between the hours of 10:00 A.M. and 8:00 P.M.  All ornamental fountains and water features shall be closed loop re-circulating systems.    There are no requirements for termination as Stage 1 is a year-round conservation program. 

Stage 2 - Incipient Dry Spell-Mild Drought

(1)       Water Reduction for Permitted Users – Mandatory 10% reduction in groundwater use or as specified in the operating permit.

(2)       All other users must implement the following conservation practices

(a) Outdoor lawn and landscape irrigation by hose-end sprinklers, automatic sprinklers, soaker hoses, or drip irrigation may not be performed between the hours of 10:00 A.M. and 8:00 P.M.  Hand-held hoses or hand-held buckets are allowed at any time.  Automatic sprinkler systems shall be equipped with rain sensors to prevent operation during periods of rainfall.
     
(b) Washing of automobiles, trucks, trailers, boats, airplanes, and other types of mobile equipment must be done over pervious cover, with a hand held hose equipped with a positive shutoff valve, or at a commercial facility.

(c) Water troughs or any water receptacles with mechanical float controls shall be routinely inspected and properly maintained to prevent leaks and waste of water.

Stage 3 - Moderate Drought

(1)       Water Reduction for Permitted Users – Mandatory 20% reduction in groundwater use or as specified in the operating permit.

(2)       All other users must implement the following conservation practices.  The conservation practices from Stage 2 shall remain in effect and mandatory.

(a) Outdoor lawn and landscape irrigation shall only be allowed during the following outlined days and hours:

Lawn and Landscape Watering Schedule

Day of the Week                                   Address ends with #
Monday                                                   0 or 1
Tuesday                                                   2 or 3
Wednesday                                             4 or 5
Thursday                                                 6 or 7
Friday                                                      8 or 9

No lawn and landscape irrigation shall be performed between the hours of 10:00 A.M. and 8:00 P.M.  No watering on weekends is allowed

(b) If  a new lawn or landscaping has been installed within two weeks before or after the initiation of Stage 3, then irrigation of that lawn or landscape may not occur between the hours of 10:00 A.M. to 8:00 P.M. in accordance with the following 30-day schedule:

• For the first 10 days after installation, once a day;
• For day 11 through 20 after installation, once every other day; and
• For day 21 through 30 after installation, once every third day.

(c)  Use of groundwater to fill, refill, or add to any indoor or outdoor swimming pools, wading pools, or spa type pools is prohibited except on designated watering days during the designated watering hours.  When such facilities are not in use, some form of surface cover shall be used to limit the evaporation of water.

(d) Filling or adding groundwater to any ornamental fountain or pond for aesthetic or scenic purposes is prohibited except on designated watering days during the designated watering hours.

(e) All restaurants are encouraged to serve water to their patrons only upon request.

Stage 4 - Severe Drought

(1)         Water Reduction for Permitted Users – Mandatory 30% reduction in groundwater use or as specified in the operating permit.

(2)         The conservation practices from Stage 3 shall remain in effect and mandatory.  When initiating this Stage, the Board may impose one or more of the following conservation practices.

(a) All outdoor lawn and landscape irrigation, including the irrigation of new lawns and landscaping is limited to one day a week per the schedule designated in Rule 11.3.C.(2)(a) (Lawn and Landscape Watering Schedule).

(b) The use of groundwater for washing sidewalks, driveways, parking areas, streets, tennis courts, or other paved impermeable areas, except to alleviate health or fire hazards is prohibited.

(c)  The watering of the ground around foundation to prevent foundation cracking with groundwater is permitted only during times designated for lawn and landscape irrigation, unless watering is accomplished by a drip system or a hand-held hose, then foundation watering may be done at any time.

(d) The operation, other than for basic filtration and/or recirculation, of any ornamental fountain or pond for aesthetic or scenic purposes is prohibited.  Filling of ponds, lakes, tanks, reservoirs, swimming pools or other surface impoundments with groundwater is prohibited.  Groundwater may be added to pools to replace water lost due to use or evaporation during times when landscape irrigation is allowed.

(e) Washing of automobiles, trucks, trailers, boats, airplanes, and other types of mobile equipment, utilizing groundwater, is prohibited unless it is on the premises of a commercial car wash, service station, or a private facility that utilizes a recycled water system.  Charity carwashes are prohibited.

Stage 5 - Extreme Drought

(1)         Water reduction for permitted users – Mandatory 40% reduction in groundwater use or as specified in the operating permit.

(2)         The conservation practices from Stage 4 shall remain in effect and mandatory.  When initiating this Stage, the Board may impose one or more of the following conservation practices. 

(a) Irrigation of lawns and landscaped areas shall be limited to once a week on the schedule designated in Rule 11.3.C(2)(a) (Lawn and Landscape Watering Schedule), and shall be by means of hand-held hoses or hand-held buckets only.  No hose-end sprinklers or automatic sprinklers are allowed at any time.

(b) Use of water from hydrants shall be limited to fire fighting, related activities, or other activities necessary to maintain public health, safety, and welfare.

(c)  Leak-proof troughs shall be used to provide water for livestock.

(d) Use of groundwater for construction activities is prohibited, unless authorized by an operating permit.

(e) The irrigation of a domestic or home garden with groundwater shall be limited to an area of 5,000 square feet and shall be by means of drip irrigation, hand-held hoses with a positive shut off device or hand-held buckets only.

Stage 6 - Extreme Drought Emergency

• Water Reduction for Permitted Users – Mandatory 50% reduction in groundwater use or as specified in the operating permit.

• The following requirements are for community water systems and retail water utilities:

• No additional, expanded or increase-in-size water service connections, meters, service lines, pipeline extensions, mains or water service facilities of any kind shall be allowed or approved if groundwater is used.

• In the event of system failure, the water supply will be managed by such measures necessary to maintain public health and safety, including elimination of service to part or all of the water system.

• Irrigation of hay crops is prohibited, unless specified in an operating permit.

(4) The conservation practices from Stage 5 shall remain in effect and mandatory.  When initiating this Stage, the Board may impose one or more of the following conservation practices.

(a) Irrigation of lawn and landscape areas is prohibited at all times.

(b) Use of water to wash any motor vehicle, motorbike, boat, trailer, airplane, or any other mobile vehicle is prohibited at all times.

(c)  The filling, refilling, or adding of groundwater to private swimming, or spa type pools for any reason is prohibited.

(d) The issuance of new well drilling permits, operating permits and amendments may be suspended except to replace an existing well.

(e) Other measures deemed necessary by the Board to protect public health and safety.