water shortage plan

The West Des Moines Water Works (WDMWW) currently produces approximately 70% of the annual water needs of the city of West Des Moines at the A.C. Ward Municipal Water Treatment Plant. The remaining water supply is purchased through a Wholesale Water Service Master Agreement from Des Moines Water Works (DMWW). DMWW sources raw water for treatment primarily from the Raccoon and Des Moines Rivers, which can be more easily affected by drought conditions and water quality issues.

 

PLAN STAGE I: VOLUNTARY 25% REDUCTION IN LAWN WATERING
1. Trigger. During a period of substantial lawn watering demand, when Expected Peak Demand reaches 90% of Current Capacity or system demand is generating a high number of areas with low pressure, or there are other indications that without wise usage of water, a shortage could occur.

2. Anticipated Impact. It is anticipated that Stage I will most likely be triggered during peak lawn watering season. In a typical year lawn watering can account for as much as 40% of demand on a peak day. If this is the case, a 25% reduction in lawn watering will result in a 10% reduction in total demand.

3. Goal. A 10% reduction in CIWW system demands as compared to Expected Peak Demand.

4. Actions.
(a) Request a metro wide 25% reduction in lawn watering.
(b) Encourage customers to optimize their lawn watering systems so water is not directed onto impervious surfaces and lawns are not overwatered.
(c) Continued reinforcement that customers water on alternate days and excluding Mondays (historically a peak demand day), by a system under which even numbered addresses water only on Wednesday, Friday and Sunday, and odd-numbered addresses water only on Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday.
(d) Suspend all hydrant flushing programs except for water quality purposes.
(e) Request that City officials minimize high water use activities such as street sweeping and watering golf course fairways.
(f) Coordinate with Member Agencies to ensure they are relaying the same message.

5. Enforcement. There will be no enforcement at this stage.

STAGE II: VOLUNTARY 50% REDUCTION IN LAWN WATERING
1. Trigger. During a period of substantial lawn watering demand, after Stage I has been implemented and failed to achieve an adequate reduction in consumption, when Expected Peak Demand exceeds 90% of Current Capacity, or system demand continues to generate areas of low pressure, or there are other indications that without further reductions in demand, a shortage could occur.

2. Anticipated Impact. It is anticipated that Stage II will most likely be triggered during the peak outdoor water use season. In a typical year, lawn watering can account for as much as 40% of demand on a peak day. If this is the case, a 50% reduction in lawn watering will result in 20% reduction in total demand.

3. Goal. A 20% reduction in system demands as compared to Expected Peak Demand.

4. Actions. Request customers further reduce water consumption by taking the following measures in addition to those implemented in Stage I:
(i) Request a metro wide 50% reduction in outdoor water use.
(ii) Remind customers to optimize their lawn watering systems so water is not directed onto impervious surfaces and turf is not overwatered.
(iii)Reinforce the recommendation for customers to irrigate on alternate days and excluding Mondays.
(iv)Encourage wise use of water during outdoor activities including washing cars, playing in the sprinkler, playing with water toys, and filling swimming pools.
(v) Encourage wise use of water indoors including identifying and repairing leaking fixtures, washing only full loads in dishwashers and washing machines, shorter showers, etc.
(vi)Coordinate with Member Agencies to ensure they are relaying the same message.
(vii) Request that public agencies (City, County, or State) set an example by: Closing recreational facilities with known water inefficiencies and suspend the operation of decorative fountains.

5. Enforcement. There will be no enforcement at this stage.

STAGE III: LAWN WATERING PROHIBITED AND NO USE OF AUTOMATIC LAWN WATERING SYSTEMS

1. Trigger. During a period of substantial lawn watering demand, after Stage I and Stage II have been implemented and failed to achieve an adequate reduction in consumption, when Expected Peak Demand exceeds 90% of Current Capacity, or system demand continues to generate areas of low pressure, or there are other indications that without further reductions in demand, a shortage could occur.

  2. Anticipated Impact. It is anticipated that Stage III will most likely be triggered during peak lawn watering season. In a typical year, lawn watering can account for as much as 40% of demand on a peak day. If this is the case, prohibiting lawn watering will result in 40% reduction in total demand.

3. Goal. A 40% reduction in system demands as compared to Expected Peak Demand.

4. Actions. Require members to further reduce water consumption by suspending all lawn watering and the use of all automatic lawn watering systems of their customers. This reduction is in addition to all steps implemented in Stage I and Stage II. The requirement for placing new sod should be suspended until Stage III is lifted.

 

5. Enforcement. Customers observed by CIWW or Member Agencies watering their lawn in violation of this policy will be notified. If lawn watering is not suspended within 48 hours, water service will be terminated by the Member Agency and any published fees will apply. Water service will be restored only upon receipt of an undertaking by the customer that the customer understands and will comply with the mandatory conservation measures. Any subsequent violation will result in further termination of service. In addition, the use of water for lawn watering in violation of this plan shall be deemed an unauthorized use of water and Charges for the Unauthorized Use of Water/Metering Tampering shall apply and must be paid before water service will be restored.

 

STAGE IV: WATER RATIONING

1. Trigger. During periods of substantial lawn watering demand, or other potential shortage after Stage I, Stage II, and Stage III have been implemented and failed to achieve an adequate reduction in consumption, when Expected Peak Demand exceeds 90% of Current Capacity, or system demand is generating a high number of areas with low pressure, limited source water supply, or there are other indications that without wise usage of water, a shortage could occur. Stage IV may also be invoked, without resort to Stages I through III, if Expected Peak Demand for any reason and/or limited source water supply cannot be addressed by the measures contemplated by Stages I through III.

2. Anticipated Impact. It is anticipated that Stage IV will only be triggered in the event of a significant and severe water shortage, or other event, which severely reduces capacity relative to demand. In this case a reduction in demand to the lowest level which will meet public health and safety standards and, when reasonably possible, animal health and safety standards for livestock producers will be sought.

The definition of a “livestock producer” is the same as stated in 7 U.S.C. § 1471(1) to be “(A) a person that is actively engaged in farming and that receives a substantial amount of total income from the production of grain or livestock, as determined by the Secretary, that is:

(i) an established producer or husbander of livestock or a dairy producer who is a citizen of, or legal resident alien in, the United States; or
(ii) a farm cooperative, private domestic corporation, partnership, or joint operation in which a majority interest is held by members, stockholders, or partners who are citizens of, or legal resident aliens.”

3. Goal. A reduction in system demands as compared to Expected Peak Demand sufficient to allow the CIWW to meet public health and safety standards, and when reasonably possible, animal health and safety standards.

 

4. Actions. Water rationing measures will be required to be implemented by all Member Agencies and enforced by application of an Emergency Water Shortage Rate. In order to implement such a demand, Member Agencies in consultation with the CIWW Technical Committee shall set a target level for demand consistent with its Current Capacity and shall use such target to establish a “Rationed Demand” as defined in this Plan. All Member Agencies will be responsible for asking their customers to reduce their consumption to a level to meet the “Stage IV Rationed Demand”. Member Agencies will be expected to initiate efforts to reduce consumption above such level and will be charged at the Emergency Water Shortage Rate intended to strongly discourage consumption above such level.
a. Water rationing shall consider livestock health and safety needs. The expected decrease for members supplying such needs shall be set by the Technical Committee taking into consideration livestock health and safety needs.
b. At Stage IV, Member Agencies with alternative available sources of water meeting state drinking water stands shall supplement and/or replace CIWW water from those sources.

5. Enforcement. “Stage IV Rationed Demand” means for each Member Agency will be responsible for implementing measures to ensure this Rationed Demand is not exceeded. Should the “Stage IV Rationed Demand” be exceeded, the Member Agency will be subject to an Emergency Water Shortage Rate which will be equal to 10 times the established variable rate for any amount in excess of the Rationed Demand.

 

 Call customer service at 515-222-3460 with any questions. 

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