Whenever the governing body of the city receives notice from our water supplier that an emergency exists by reason of a shortage of water and that in order to properly protect and fully utilize the supply of water for essential uses such as household consumption, maintenance of health and sanitation facilities and the operation of essential businesses, the governing body shall have power to declare an emergency to exist and to prohibit during the period of the emergency, the use of water for nonessential uses and to promulgate and enforce conservation measures limiting the permissible use of water from the city water supply for essential cases only. Such emergency shall be deemed to continue until it is declared by the governing body to be ended.

(Ord. 494, Sec. 1; Code 2004)

(a)   For the purposes mentioned in section 15-601, the governing body may limit as it deems necessary or may prohibit any of the following uses of water from the city water supply:

(1)   The sprinkling or watering of shrubbery, trees or grass through the use of a hose or otherwise; provided, that nurseries shall be allowed to use a minimum amount of water to keep their present stock of shrubbery and trees alive;

(2)   The washing of automobiles, trucks, or any other type of mobile equipment;

(3)   The washing of sidewalks, porches, filling station aprons or floors and interiors of buildings or trucks; provided further, that the city superintendent may permit the reasonable use of water to maintain sanitation. Likewise, the fire chief may permit the reasonable use of water for the washing of filling station aprons and floors essential to public safety and the prevention of fire hazards;

(4)   The wasting of any water through defective plumbing, which shall mean the knowing permission of defective plumbing to remain out of repair, such as leaking water closets, surface leaks or underground leaks, defective faucets and taps;

(5)   Air conditioning or evaporative cooling systems designed and used to reduce room temperature of the comfort of persons using the room;

(6)   The use of water in fountains, ornamental or otherwise, private swimming pools, wading pools, fish ponds, golf courses, miniature golf course or any recreational grounds.

(b)   The governing body may make such other limitations, restrictions or prohibition upon the use of such water as it deems necessary to meet the exigencies of the emergency. The governing body may in such case, prescribe, and impose penalties for violations of such emergency.

(Ord. 494, Sec. 2; Code 2004)

The chief of police, the zoning administrator and the city superintendent shall be charged with the enforcement of this article and shall cause all ordinances of the city respecting any such emergency water regulations to be enforced.

(Ord. 494, Sec. 3; Code 2004)

Any person who shall violate any of the provisions of this article or shall fail to comply therewith, or who shall violate, or shall fail to comply with any order made hereunder, or who shall fail to comply with such order as affirmed or modified by the city council or a court of competent jurisdiction, within the time fixed herein, shall severally for each and every such violation and noncompliance respectfully, be guilty of a Class C misdemeanor as such term is used and defined in the code and subject to the fine provided thereby. The imposition of one penalty for any violation shall not excuse the violation or permit it to continue; and all such persons shall be required to correct or remedy such violations or defects within a reasonable time; and when not otherwise specified, each day that prohibited conditions are maintained shall constitute a separate offense.

(Ord. 494, Sec. 4; Code 2004)