HomeMy WebLinkAbout~Master - Establishing a Water Use Policy 1! .
ORDINANCE NO. 2612
AN ORDINANCE TO ESTABLISH A WATER USE
POLICY DURING A TIME OF WATER SHORTAGE
BY AMENDING THE MUNICIPAL CODE OF THE
CITY OF AMES , IOWA TO REPEAL THE SUMMER
BEAUTIFICATION SEWER RATE ; ESTABLISHING
A PREMIUM RATE FOR WATER CONSUMED IN
EXCESS OF A BASE QUANTITY ; PROHIBITING
CERTAIN USES OF WATER ; REPEALING ALL
ORDINANCES OR PARTS OF ORDINANCES IN
CONFLICT HEREWITH TO THE EXTENT OF SUCH
CONFLICT IF ANY ; PROVIDING A PENALTY ;
AND ESTABLISHING AN EFFECTIVE DATE .
WHEREAS the City of Ames , Iowa has been afflicted
with a severe and protracted drought ; and ,
WHEREAS the aquifer which supplies the water to
the Ames municipal water utility has become significantly
and seriously depleted ; and,
WHEREAS there is not deemed to be a sufficient
supply of water to meet all customary and usual demand in-
definitely ; and,
WHEREAS it is determined to be necessary to the
public health , safety and general welfare to enact and en-
force measures to produce a uniform and equitable curtail-
ment of water consumption.
NOW , THEREFORE , BE IT ORDAINED and enacted by the
City Council for the City of Ames , Iowa :
Section One . Summer Beautification Rate Repealed
The summer beautification rate for sanitary sewer
service as enacted by ordinance No . 2367 on March
23 , 1971 , and codified as section 36-7004 of the
Municipal Code of the City of Ames , Iowa shall be
and is hereby repealed .
Section Two. Premium Rate for Inaustere Residential
Consumption
In addition to the water rates enacted by ordinance
No . 2461 on November 18 , 1973 and found codified as
sections 36-3002 and 36-3003 of the Municipal Code
of the City of Ames , all residential customers of
the Ames municipal water utility shall , during May
through October , pay a premium rate of 7 . 5 cents
per cubic foot of water consumed in excess of the
monthly average of water billed during the previous
winter , November through April , at the customer ' s
service address . During the month of November
through April there will be charged a premium of
7 . 5 cents per cubic foot of water consumed in ex-
cess of 80% of the monthly average of water billed
during the previous winter , November through
April , at the customer ' s service address .
For new residential service addresses that did not
exist on November 1 , 1976 the aforesaid premium
rate shall be applied on water consumed in excess
of 500 cubic feet per month.
For those residential customers for which there is
an unrealistically low November through April aver-
age applicable , the City Manager is authorized, on
request of the customer , to make such modification
or adjustment as shall seem reasonable and fair
under the circumstances and so as to assure a supply
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to such service address of not less than 32 gallons
of water per day per person there residing before .
the aforesaid premium rate shall be in effect .
Section Three . Premium Rate for Inaustere Consumption
by Non-Residential Users
In addition to the water rates enacted by Ordinance
No . 2461 on November 18 , 1973 and found codified
as sections 36-3002 and 36-3003 of the Municipal
Code of the City of Ames , all non-residential users
of the Ames municipal water utility shall , during
May through October , pay a premium rate of 7 . 5
cents per cubic foot of water consumed in excess
of the monthly average of water billed during the
previous winter , November through April , at the
customer ' s service address . During the month of
November through April there will be charged a
premium of 7 . 5 cents per cubic foot of water con-
sumed in excess of 80% of the monthly average of
water billed during the previous winter , November
through April , at the customer ' s service address .
For new service addresses of a commercial , indus-
trial , institutional or other nature that did not
exist on November 1 , 1976 , or for which there is an
unrealistically low November through April average
applicable , the City Manager is authorized , upon
request of the customer on a case-by-case basis ,
to establish a base consumption amount above which
the aforesaid premium rate shall apply . Such base
consumption amount shall clearly reflect water
conservation practices as mutually agreed upon.
The City Manager shall be guided in such determina-
tion by the average winter consumption of similar
commercial , industrial , institutional or other
customers .
Section Four. Prohibited Uses
No person shall use potable processed water of the
Ames municipal water utility for any of the following :
a) outdoor watering or irrigation of lawns , gar-
dens , plant , trees and shrubs of any nature
whatsoever
b ) private , non-commercial vehicle washing
c ) commercial vehicle washing carried on in
connection with some other commercial activity ,
such as an automotive service station
d) filling private swimming pools ; children ' s
wading pools , or any other outdoor pool of
any kind or description whatsoever.
However , water reclaimed or recycled after some
other primary use , (such as water that has been
used for washing or cooking) , may be used without
restriction . Additionally , water derived from
sources other than the Ames municipal water utili-
ty , such as water condensed from the atmosphere
by air conditioners or collected from such rain or
snow as may occur , may be used without restriction .
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Section Five . Penalties
Violation of the provisions of this ordinance shall
constitute a misdemeanor punishable for the first
offense by a fine of $25 . 00 , and fine of $100 . 00
for the second and each additional or succeeding
violation by the same person .
Section Six. Repealer
All ordinances or parts of ordinances in conflict
herewith are hereby repealed to the extent of such
conflict .
Section Seven . Effective Date
This ordinance shall be in full force and effect
for water consumed on and after July 25 , 1977 , from
and after its passage and publication as required
by law.
Passed this 19th_ day of July 1977•
Mary E . Vaul , City Clerk Lee Fellinger , Mayor
Published this 22nd day of July , 1977