ORD 2410 ORDINANCE NO . v� I �
AN ORDINANCE adding a new chapter to the Camas
Municipal Code establishing policies and procedures for
responding to water shortage emergencies .
THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF CAMAS DO ORDAIN AS FOLLOWS :
Section I
There is hereby enacted a new chapter to the Camas Municipal Code in the form set forth
in Exhibit "A " attached hereto and by this reference incorporated herein .
Section II
Section 13 . 12 . 060 of the Camas Municipal Code is hereby repealed .
Section III
This ordinance shall take force and be in effect five ( 5 ) days from and after its publication
according to law .
PASSED by the Council and APPROVED by the Mayor th * day o4zL /t-Q , 2005 .
. SIGNED :
Mayor
ATTEST :
Clerk
APPROVED as to form :
eoloo
C ' yrney
CHAPTER 13 . 14
WATER CONSERVATION
13 . 14 . 010 - Purpose . It is in the public interest to promote the conservation of the City ' s
water supply in order to protect the health, welfare , and safety of water users . To
accomplish this declared purpose , the City reserves the right to exercise its police
powers through emergency measures as set forth in this chapter .
13 . 14 . 020 - Authority . The Public Works Director , when necessary for the protection of the
public health , safety , and welfare , shall have the authority to declare various
stages of water emergencies and to implement the water conservation measures
set forth in this chapter . The Public Works Director shall also have authority to
determine whether the various stages of water emergencies and water
conservation measures apply to the entire city utility service area or to such
portions as may be particularly affected .
13 . 14 . 030 - Policies and Procedures . The following policies and procedures shall apply
during the various stages of water emergencies as set forth in this section :
A . Stage I - Anticipated Water Shortage - Internal Preparations . The Public
Works Director may declare a Stage I water emergency when a water
shortage is anticipated but not immediate . The Public Works Department
shall conduct public education efforts regarding the benefits and necessity
of conservation by the public .
B . Stage II - Serious Water Shortage - Vol _ ntary Conservation . The Public
Works Director may declare a Stage II water emergency when a water
shortage exists such that immediate voluntary reductions in consumption
are necessary . The Public Works Department shall conduct an intensified
public information campaign and shall institute a voluntary odd/even
home irrigation program . The City shall reduce usage for designated park
irrigation systems that do not affect sports fields .
- Critical Water Shortage - Limited Outdoor Restrictions
C . Stage III . The
Public Works Director may declare a Stage III water emergency when a
water shortage exists such that water supplies are critically impacted and
water demand must be reduced . The mayor is authorized to establish
certain specified days or hours for irrigating , sprinkling or watering lawns
and gardens , and may prohibit or regulate other nonessential uses of water
within the water system during such times as there is an actual or
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impending water shortage , extreme pressure loss in the distribution
system , or for any other reasonable cause . The following nonessential
uses of water may be prohibited on all properties connected to the City ' s
water system , whether inside or outside of the City :
L Washing sidewalks , walkways , driveways , parking lots ,
patios , and other exterior paved areas by direct hosing ,
except as may be necessary to prevent or eliminate
materials dangerous to the public health and safety .
2 . Escape of water through breaks or leaks within the
customer ' s plumbing or private distribution system for any
period of time beyond which such break or leak should
reasonably have been discovered and corrected . It shall be
presumed that a period of 48 hours after the customer
discovers a leak or break , or receives notice from the City
of such leak or break , whichever occurs first , is a
reasonable time in which to correct the same .
3 . Noncommercial washing of privately owned motor
vehicles , trailers , and boats , except from a bucket or hose
using a shutoff nozzle for quick rinses .
4 . Lawn sprinkling and irrigation which allows water to run
off or overspray the lawn area . Every customer is deemed
to have knowledge of and control over his or her lawn
sprinkling and irrigation at all times .
5 . Sprinkling and irrigation of lawns , ground cover , or other
plants , between the hours of 9 : 00 a . m . and 6 : 00 p . m . or on
any day not authorized by the established rotation schedule .
6 . Such other uses as the mayor deems appropriate .
D . Stage IV - Emergency Water Shortage - Mandatory Outdoor Restrictions
% w ofand Indoor Conservation . The Public Works Director may declare a Stage
IV water emergency when a water shortage exists such that maximum
flow reduction is immediately required , water available to the City is
insufficient to permit any irrigation , watering , or sprinkling , and all
available water is needed solely for human consumption , sanitation , and
fire protection . The Public Works Director may prohibit all nonessential
uses of water , including but not limited to all vehicle washing , all lawn
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T
watering , and all of the uses that may be prohibited for a Stage III water
emergency . The Public Works and Utilities Department shall disseminate
information using every available means to encourage customers to reduce
indoor water usage to the maximum extent possible .
E . Stage V - Regional Disaster - Water Rationing . The Public Works
Director may declare a Stage V regional disaster water emergency when a
water shortage exists such that water rationing must be implemented and
emergency water distribution may be necessary for customers without
water . The Public Works Director is authorized to restrict water use by
rationing the amount of water used by residential users to a certain number
of gallons per day per person residing within the dwelling unit , by
rationing the amount of water used by nonresidential users based on a
percentage of their historical usage as calculated by the City , and by any
other type of rationing as the Public Works Director deems necessary and
appropriate in the circumstances .
F . Implementation Requirements . Prior to the implementation and
enforcement of any of the above stages , the Public Works Director shall
take reasonable efforts to have information disseminated to affected
customers regarding the rationing plan , which shall include , at a minimum ,
publication in the official newspaper of the City at least once , not less than
one week in advance of the effective date of the declaration , information
of the declaration of the applicable stage , a description of the limitations
and restrictions that would apply , and identification of the effective date of
the declared stage and limitations and restrictions . Notwithstanding the
publication requirements set forth herein above , if it is determined by the
Public Works Director that exigent circumstances exist that necessitate
immediate implementation and enforcement of any particular stages of
water emergency , notice to affected customers may be provided by
personal service of the notice on said customers , or by posting notices at
the customers ' residence ( if the customers ' residences are the affected
sites ) , or by posting notices at the locations where the customers ' utility
services are received ( if the affected sites are not their residences ) .
G . Term of Stage and Scope . The Public Works Director is also authorized to
determine the geographic area to which the declared stage shall apply , and
to determine the duration for which the declared stage and its limitations
and restrictions shall be in effect .
13 . 14 . 040 - Enforcement . The Public Works Director or designee , code enforcement officers
of the building division of the Planning Department or of the Fire Department ,
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and police officers of the City shall have the authority to enforce the provisions of
this chapter .
13 . 14 . 050 - Variances . The Public Works Director may grant temporary variances for the
prospective use of water otherwise prohibited by this chapter . Such temporary
variances shall be in writing and shall be based on a determination by the director
that , due to unusual circumstances , application of this chapter would cause an
extraordinary hardship adversely affecting the health , sanitation , or fire protection
of the applicant or the public . The director ' s determination shall be final unless
appealed as follows : a party adversely affected by the director ' s determination
may appeal the determination to the Mayor or designee within 24 hours of the
director ' s determination or such later time as the Mayor may designate . The
Mayor ' s determination shall be final and nonappealable . Said 24 -hour periods
shall exclude Saturdays , Sundays and legal holidays .
13 . 14 . 060 - Penalties . Violations of this chapter shall be punishable as follows :
A . The first violation of any provision of this chapter shall be a civil
infraction as provided for by RCW 7 . 80 . 120 ( 1 ) ( a) , as now enacted or
hereafter amended . Infractions shall be processed pursuant to the
authority and provisions set forth in Chapter 7 . 80 RCW, as now enacted or
hereafter amended , and the Infraction Rules for Courts of Limited
Jurisdiction .
B . For any second or subsequent violation of any provision of this chapter the
violator may be charged as a misdemeanor punishable by imprisonment in
j all for a maximum term fixed by the court of not more than 90 days , or a
fine in an amount fixed by the court of not more than $ 1 , 000 , or both such
imprisonment and fine .
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