The Latest Scoop On Mesa Water's Conservation Plan
STRAIGHT FROM MESA WATER
Greetings, water guzzlers. As promised, today I bring to you the most recent, hot-off-the-presses information from our friends and water purveyors at the Mesa Water District.
READ THE ORDINANCE
Water Conservation Ordinance No. 26, HERE, and Resolution No. 1426, HERE, have both apparently been thoroughly vetted by attorneys and are now ready for public consumption. The District has declared this to be an Emergency situation, which justifies the IMMEDIATE imposition of the new rules. We are at "Level 1" as defined in the attachment to Ordinance No. 26. However, two exceptions were made.
ONLY WATER TUESDAY AND SATURDAY!
As I mentioned in an earlier post, the new rules are in effect NOW, and today was the very first day we could water landscaping after the passage of the ordinance. Next Saturday is the next day, unless it rains on Friday, at which time you can't water until next Tuesday. Anyhow, the simple version is: You may water landscaping two days a week - ONLY on Tuesdays and Saturdays and ONLY between the hours of 5 p.m and 8 a.m. This DOES NOT apply to using a hand-held bucket, watering can or similar device or use a hose with a positive self-closing water shut-off nozzle or device or for very short periods of time while adjusting or repairing an irrigation system.
LEAKS
Leaks must be repaired within 72 hours.
I LIED - THEY ARE PATROLLING
In an earlier post I told you that there would not be "Water Gestapo" patrolling to find scofflaws. Well, it turns out that was based on incorrect information. In fact, Mesa Water District staffers - both regular staffers and an "enhanced" crew hired specifically for this purpose - are patrolling our streets right now to help us conserve. This week, if one of the staffers comes across a violation of the new rules - watering when you shouldn't, too much runoff, etc. - he might just get out of his truck and place a little reminder notice on your door, probably in the form of this notification, which will arrive in all our mailboxes within the next day or two in the form of a post card.
NEXT WEEK THE HAMMER COMES DOWN
Next week, however, those same folks will begin officially citing those of us who violate the rules by placing a door-hanger on our doors and making an official record of the occurrence which will be entered into the Mesa Water database. A letter will be sent to the violator. Here's how it will work:
Following this to it's most unlikely extreme, a member of the Mesa Water team could cite you next Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday and - if you continued to violate the rules - you might be looking at $300 in "fees" PLUS the discontinuation of your service. NOBODY expects that to happen, but under the rules now in place, it COULD. Mesa Water officials assure me that they want to work with all ratepayers to make these conservation measures work for everyone.
PREVIOUS RESTRICTIONS, WILL BE MODIFIED
As a reminder, earlier Mesa Water defined restrictions on water
use that are permanent and included in this Conservation Program. Here are the details of those previously-approved restrictions. Some of these were amended by the new ordinance:
Limits On Watering Hours: No watering 8 a.m. - 5 p.m., except by hand
No Excessive Water Flow Or Runoff
No Washing Down Hard Or Paved Surfaces: Except for health and safety purposes
Obligation To Fix Leaks: In reasonable time(within 7 days of notice) (now within 72 hours)
Fountains: Only with re-circulating water
Limits On Washing Vehicles: Wash vehicles only with bucket or shut-off nozzle
Restaurants: Encouraged to only serve water on request
Hotels: Must provide guests option to not launder linen daily
No Installation Of Single-Pass Cooling Systems
No Installation of Non-Re-circulating Car Wash Systems
Restaurants Must Use Conserving Nozzles
Commercial Car Wash Systems Use Re-Circulating Water
Recycled Water Use Required: If available and cost-effective
Recycled Water - New Service: Required, if available and cost-effective
LET'S DO OUR PART
So, let's all try to do our part to help Mesa Water reach its 20% water consumption reduction goal. I know we can do it.
Greetings, water guzzlers. As promised, today I bring to you the most recent, hot-off-the-presses information from our friends and water purveyors at the Mesa Water District.READ THE ORDINANCE
Water Conservation Ordinance No. 26, HERE, and Resolution No. 1426, HERE, have both apparently been thoroughly vetted by attorneys and are now ready for public consumption. The District has declared this to be an Emergency situation, which justifies the IMMEDIATE imposition of the new rules. We are at "Level 1" as defined in the attachment to Ordinance No. 26. However, two exceptions were made. ONLY WATER TUESDAY AND SATURDAY!
As I mentioned in an earlier post, the new rules are in effect NOW, and today was the very first day we could water landscaping after the passage of the ordinance. Next Saturday is the next day, unless it rains on Friday, at which time you can't water until next Tuesday. Anyhow, the simple version is: You may water landscaping two days a week - ONLY on Tuesdays and Saturdays and ONLY between the hours of 5 p.m and 8 a.m. This DOES NOT apply to using a hand-held bucket, watering can or similar device or use a hose with a positive self-closing water shut-off nozzle or device or for very short periods of time while adjusting or repairing an irrigation system.LEAKS
I LIED - THEY ARE PATROLLING
In an earlier post I told you that there would not be "Water Gestapo" patrolling to find scofflaws. Well, it turns out that was based on incorrect information. In fact, Mesa Water District staffers - both regular staffers and an "enhanced" crew hired specifically for this purpose - are patrolling our streets right now to help us conserve. This week, if one of the staffers comes across a violation of the new rules - watering when you shouldn't, too much runoff, etc. - he might just get out of his truck and place a little reminder notice on your door, probably in the form of this notification, which will arrive in all our mailboxes within the next day or two in the form of a post card.
Next week, however, those same folks will begin officially citing those of us who violate the rules by placing a door-hanger on our doors and making an official record of the occurrence which will be entered into the Mesa Water database. A letter will be sent to the violator. Here's how it will work:
IN ANY CALENDAR YEAR
- 1st violation - Door hanger advising of the violation and a letter sent to the violator.
- 2nd violation - Same as the above.
- 3rd violation - Same as the above, EXCEPT a $100 "Fee" will be imposed on your next water bill
- 4th violation - Same as the above, EXCEPT the "Fee" will be $200
- 5th violation - There is the very real possibility for other penalties to include disconnection of water service
Following this to it's most unlikely extreme, a member of the Mesa Water team could cite you next Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday and - if you continued to violate the rules - you might be looking at $300 in "fees" PLUS the discontinuation of your service. NOBODY expects that to happen, but under the rules now in place, it COULD. Mesa Water officials assure me that they want to work with all ratepayers to make these conservation measures work for everyone.PREVIOUS RESTRICTIONS, WILL BE MODIFIED
As a reminder, earlier Mesa Water defined restrictions on water
use that are permanent and included in this Conservation Program. Here are the details of those previously-approved restrictions. Some of these were amended by the new ordinance:Limits On Watering Hours: No watering 8 a.m. - 5 p.m., except by hand
No Excessive Water Flow Or Runoff
No Washing Down Hard Or Paved Surfaces: Except for health and safety purposes
Obligation To Fix Leaks: In reasonable time
Fountains: Only with re-circulating water
Limits On Washing Vehicles: Wash vehicles only with bucket or shut-off nozzle
Restaurants: Encouraged to only serve water on request
Hotels: Must provide guests option to not launder linen daily
No Installation Of Single-Pass Cooling Systems
No Installation of Non-Re-circulating Car Wash Systems
Restaurants Must Use Conserving Nozzles
Commercial Car Wash Systems Use Re-Circulating Water
Recycled Water Use Required: If available and cost-effective
Recycled Water - New Service: Required, if available and cost-effective
LET'S DO OUR PART
So, let's all try to do our part to help Mesa Water reach its 20% water consumption reduction goal. I know we can do it.Labels: Mesa Water District, Water Conservation
posted by The Pot Stirrer at 5/19/2015 04:41:00 PM
1 Comments:
Good coverage.
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