CITY OF MCCOOK

      Section 1.  Chapter 3, Article 1, Section 3-128 of the Municipal Code of the City of McCook s hereby adopted to read as follows:

§3-128 WATER CONSERVATION, DROUGHT, AND EMERGENCY CONTINGENCY PLAN

PURPOSE:  The purpose of this ordinance is to adopt a plan for the declaration of a water supply watch, warning or emergency and the implementation of voluntary and mandatory water conservation measures throughout the City in the event such a watch, warning or emergency is declared. Said plan shall be named the CITY OF MCCOOK WATER CONSERVATION, DROUGHT AND EMERGENCY CONTINGENCY PLAN.

§3-128(1)  CLASS OF USES OF WATER ESTABLISHED.

The following classes of water use are hereby established for users of water on the City water system:

Class 1 - Water used for outdoor watering; either public or private, for gardens, lawns, trees, shrubs, plants, parks, golf courses, playing fields, swimming pools or other recreational areas; or the washing of motor vehicles, boats, trailers, sidewalks, driveways, or the exterior of any building or structure.

Class 2 - Water used for any commercial or industrial purpose, including agricultural; except water actually necessary to maintain the health and personal hygiene of bona fide employees while such employees are engaged in the performance of their duties at their place of employment.

Class 3 - Domestic usage, other than that which would be included in either Class 1 or 2.  Water necessary only to sustain human life and the lives of domestic pets and maintain standards of hygiene and sanitation.

§3-128(2)  WATER CONSERVATION, DROUGHT, AND EMERGENCY CONTINGENCY PLAN; DEFINITIONS.

CONSUMER.  Consumer shall mean the customer of record using water for any purpose from the City distribution system and for which either a regular charge is made or, in the case of coin sales, a cash charge is made at the site of delivery.

DRAW DOWN.  The distance between the static water level and the pumping water level.

PLAN.  The plan refers to the City of McCook Water Conservation, Drought and Emergency Contingency Plan.

PUMPING WATER LEVEL.  The level of water in a well when the pump is pumping.

STATIC WATER LEVEL.  The level of water in a well when the pump is not pumping.

TRIGGERS.  Significant events which indicate the implementation of the different stages of this plan.

WASTE OF WATER.  Waste of water includes but is not limited to: (1) permitting water to escape down a gutter, ditch, or other surface drain; or (2) failure to repair a controllable leak of water due to defective plumbing; or (3) as determined by the water system operator.

WATER.  Water shall mean water available to the City by virtue of its water introduced by the City into its water distribution system including water offered for sale at any coin-operated site.

WATER SYSTEM CAPACITY.  For the purposes of this plan; water system capacity is determined by aggregate production of all wells in gallons per minute times 60 minutes in an hour times 24 hours per day.

WATER SYSTEM DEMAND.  Water meters on each well must be read daily. Daily consumption is calculated by subtracting the previous day reading from the current day and added together for each well.

§3-128(3)  WATER PLAN ESTABLISHED.  In order to assure the continued supply of safe drinking water to the citizens of McCook, the City Council adopts the following plan addressing conservation, drought and emergency contingencies. The plan is based upon demand on the system and implements a series of stages depending upon the severity of the demand.

STAGE 1: WATER WATCH

 Triggers.  This stage is triggered by any one of the following conditions:

 1.   When system capacity reaches 4.0 million gallons per day for five (5) days consecutive.

Goals.  The goals of this stage are to heighten awareness of the public regarding water conditions and to maintain the integrity of the water supply system.

Education Actions.

1.  The City may make occasional news releases to the local media, as well as posting at City Hall, describing present conditions and indicating the regulatory action.  

2.  The triggers necessitating the STAGE 1: WATER WATCH may also be made available to the news media along with an explanation of terms.

Management Action.

1.   The City will ascertain that each well is operating at peak efficiency.

2.   Leaks detected will be repaired within 72 hours. 

3.   The City shall reduce Class 1 uses.

Regulatory Action.  The public may be asked to voluntarily reduce the use of water as defined in Class 1.

Declaration of a Water Watch.  Whenever the City Manager, Public Works Director, or Water Superintendent finds that conditions exist as described in the plan under Stage 1: Water Watch, Triggers, they shall declare a Stage 1: Water Watch, and implement the steps outlined under this section. The implementation declaring the existence and end of a Stage 1: Water Watch shall be effective upon issuing of news releases and posting at City Hall.

STAGE 2: WATER WARNING

Triggers.  This stage is triggered by any one of the following conditions:

1.   System capacity reaches 4.5 million gallons per day for five (5) consecutive days.

Goals.  The goal of this stage is to reduce demand and lighten the burden on existing water wells.

Education Actions.  

1.   The City may make weekly news releases to the local media and by posting, describing present conditions and projecting the outlook for the coming week.

2.   The triggers necessitating the STAGE 2: WATER WARNING may also be  made available to the public through news releases and posting at City Hall along with an explanation of terms.

3.   Water conservation articles may be provided to the local newspaper and posted at City Hall.

Management Actions.

1.   The City will continue to monitor water supplies on a daily basis.

2.   Leaks shall be repaired within 72 hours or a violation notice shall be issued.

3.   The City may terminate its usage of water classified in Class 1 and Class 2.

Regulation Action.

1.   Water classified as Class 1 and Class 2 will be terminated except as follows:

a.   Outdoor water use, including lawn watering and car washing will be restricted to before 10:00 a.m. and after 6:00 p.m. 

b.   Waste of water is strictly prohibited.

Declaration of a Water Warning.  Whenever the City Manager, Public Works Director, or Water Superintendent finds that conditions exist as described in the plan under Stage 2: Water Warning, Triggers, they shall declare a Stage 2: Water Warning, and implement the steps outlined under this section.  The implementation declaring the existence and end of a Stage 2: Water Warning shall be effective upon a news release and posting at City Hall. 

STAGE 3: WATER EMERGENCY

 Triggers.  This stage is triggered by any one of the following conditions:

1.   When system capacity has reached 5 million gallons per day on two (2) consecutive days.

2.   This stage may or can be implemented at anytime because of the following reasons.

a.   The loss of a municipal well or booster pump.

b.   A large main break.

c.   Loss of power due to unknown reasons.

d.   Large Fire.

e.   Undetermined reasons specified by Water Operator.

Goals.  The goals of this stage are to reduce the overall weekly consumption and maintain the integrity of the system.

Education Actions.  

1.   The City may make weekly news releases to the local media and by posting, describing present conditions and projecting the outlook for the coming week.

2.   The triggers necessitating the STAGE 3: WATER EMERGENCY may also be made available to the public through news releases and posting at City Hall along with an explanation of terms.

3.   Water conservation articles may be provided to the local newspaper and posted.

4.   The City may conduct public meetings to discuss the emergency; the status of the City water supply and further actions, which may need to be taken.

Management Actions.

1.   The City water supplies shall be monitored daily.

2.   Leaks shall be repaired within 24 hours.  This includes private and City of McCook leaks.

3.   The City may seek additional emergency supplies from other sources.

Regulation Actions.

1.   Uses of water in Class 1 and 2 shall be prohibited.

2.   Waste of water shall be prohibited.

Declaration of a Water Emergency.  Whenever the governing body of the City finds that conditions exist as described in this plan under Stage 3: Water Emergency, Triggers, it shall be empowered to declare, by resolution, that a Stage 3: Water Emergency exists and implement the steps outlined under this plan.  The resolution declaring the existence of a Stage 3: Water Emergency shall be effective upon news release and/or posting at City Hall. In the event of a system failure, or natural disaster, the City Manager, Public Works Director, or the Water Superintendent shall have the authority to declare a Stage 3: Water Emergency.  Within twenty-four (24) hours after the aforementioned Water Emergency declaration, the City Council shall declare a Stage 3: Water Emergency by resolution.  The City Manager, Public Works Director, or Water Superintendent shall declare the end of a Stage 3: Water Emergency.

§3-128(4)  WATER CONSERVATION, DROUGHT, AND EMERGENCY CONTINGENCY PLAN; ADMINISTRATIVE ENFORCEMENT PROVISIONS.

1.   Warning.  The City Council hereby appoints the City Manager, the Public Works Director, and the Water Superintendent or their agent(s) to issue written warnings to any consumer violating Stage 2: Water Warning and Stage 3: Water Emergency.  Such warning shall advise the consumer that a second violation at the same premise within a six-month period shall result in the issuance of an Administrative Notice of Violation.