Town of Appomattox

Water Conservation Plan

Adopted July 8, 2002

Purpose

During the continued existence of climatic, hydrological and other extraordinary conditions, the protection of the health, safety and welfare of the residents of the Town of Appomattox may require that certain uses of water, not essential to the public health, safety and welfare, be reduced, restricted or curtailed. As the shortage of potable (drinking) water becomes increasingly more critical, conservation measures to reduce consumption or curtail essential water use may be necessary. The Plan is intended to ensure that a dwindling water supply is conserved and managed prudently to meet the Towns needs of water supply availability. The Plan only applies to water from the Towns water system and does not include such water as trucked in water or rainwater.

Background

The Town has seven primary sources of Supply with projected safe yields as follows:

1.     Well # 1          50,000    gallons per day;

2.     Well # 5          48,000    gallons per day;

3.     Well # 9          25,000    gallons per day;

4.     Well # 15         60,000    gallons per day;

5.     Well # 25         20,400    gallons per day;

6.     Well # 41         84,000    gallons per day;

7.     Well # 42         32,400    gallons per day;

Total                319,800   gallon per day

( Note that the Total Gallons Per day are Based on a 12 hour of run time)

Safe Yield is defined as the maximum dependable draft that can be made continuously on a source of water supply (groundwater) during a period of years during which the probable driest period or period of greatest deficiency in water supply is likely to occur. Dependability is relative and is a function of storage provided and drought probability.

C.  Current annual withdrawal rates are as follows:

1.    Well # 1        30,000 gallons per day;

2.     Well # 5        40,000 gallons per day;

3.     Well # 9        20,000 gallons per day;

4.     Well # 15       50,000 gallons per day;

5.     Well # 25       17,000 gallons per day;

6.     Well # 41       70,000 gallons per day;

7.     Well # 42       27,000 gallons per day;

Total            254,000  gallon per day

( Note that the Total Gallons Per day are Based on a 10 hour of run time)

D.   Reservoir storage statistics:

1.   1,000,000 gallon ground storage tank. 100,000 gallon elevated storage tank.

The total water storage is 1,100,000 gallons with a 4.3 day water supply based on the current water usage.

Plan

Imposition of conditions of water allocation, conservation, restriction, and penalties are set forth in Exhibit B attached hereto and are made a part of this plan and will be implemented as set forth herein.

Condition 1 Normal Operations with up to 75 percent or time flow is equaled or exceeded. No restriction imposed.

Condition 2 Drought Watch with up to 75 to 90 percent or time flow is equaled or exceeded.  Voluntary restrictions imposed.

Condition 3  Drought Warning with up to 90 to 95 percent or time flow is equaled or exceeded. Partial Mandatory restrictions imposed.

Condition 4 Drought Emergency with up to 95 percent or time flow is equaled or exceeded. Mandatory restrictions imposed.

The conservation, restrictions, allocations, and penalties provided for in the plan may be imposed on any water users or customers, who are defined as the person or entity whose name the water account is listed, or in appropriate circumstances, the person or entity in control of the property in question.

Penalties for violations of the water restrictions set forth in the Plan may include one or any combination of the following:

Any charges as set forth in the plan or other ordinances or resolutions of the Town.

Citation or warning of a violation of the plan or rules or regulations issued pursuant to the plan.

Citation and assessment of a civil penalty against a water use for a violation of the plan or any rules or regulations pursuant to the plan when Condition 4 restriction is in effect in the amount of One Hundred Dollars ($100.00) per day for residential users and Five Hundred Dollars ($500.00) per day for commercial/industrial users, with each day of a violation constituting a separate violation.

Immediate cutting off or termination of water service for multiple (more than one) violations of the Water Conservation Plan or any rules or regulations issued pursuant to the Plan and/or failure to pay any civil penalty assessed for violation thereof. Furthermore, water service will not be restored until all water bills, penalties, and the current turn-on fee are paid.

Such other penalties or remedies as the Town Manager or Town Council may deem necessary to administer the Plan, including but not limited to injunctive relief or other appropriate legal proceedings.

Water Conservation Measures

Conditions, Allocations, Restrictions, and Penalties

Condition 1: Normal Conditions exits whenever wells run an average of 8 to 10 hours per day.

Condition 2: Drought Watch exits whenever wells run in excess of 12 hours per day with up to 75 to 90 percent of time flow is equaled or exceeded.

Voluntary Conservation Restriction Imposed: Citizens are asked to not use water outdoors. Limited supplies of water are available, and the Town will call upon all water users to employ prudent restraint of water usage and to conserve voluntarily water by whatever methods are available.

Condition 3: Drought Warning exits whenever wells run in excess of  14 hours per day with up to 90 to 95 percent or time flow is equaled or exceeded.

Partial Mandatory Restrictions Imposed: Very limited supplies of water available, and the Town requires curtailment of non-essential (defined as not related to health, safety, fire suppression, other public emergencies, or water necessary to sustain business operations) outdoor water use including, but not limited to the following:

The watering of shrubbery, trees, lawns, grass, plants, or any other vegetation, except indoor plantings.

The washing of automobiles, trucks, trailers, boats, or any other any other type of mobile equipment except in commercial facilities operating with high pressure low consumption equipment or operation with a water recycling system. The Town Manager may curtail the hours of operation of commercial enterprises offering such services or washing their own equipment. The washing of streets, driveways, parking lots, office buildings, exteriors of homes or apartments, or other outdoor surfaces except for commercial/industrial operations using high pressure, low consumption equipment.

Condition 4: Drought Emergency exits whenever wells run in excess of 15 hour per day with up to 95 percent or time flow is equaled or exceeded.

Mandatory Restrictions Imposed : Critical limited supplies of water are available, and the Town requires mandatory water reductions for all customers and that certain actions occur as follows:

A. Ceasing all outdoor water uses except for those user related to health, safety, fire suppression, other public emergencies, or water necessary to sustain business operations.

Ceasing operation of any ornamental fountain or other structure making a similar use of water.

Ceasing the filling or refilling of swimming pools, wading pools, and hot tubs.

Ceasing the use of water from fire hydrants for any purpose other than fire suppression or other public emergency.

Elimination of the serving of drinking water in restaurants, cafeterias or any other food establishment unless requested by the patron.

B. Imposition of civil penalties against a water user for violation of water conservation rules or regulations or of the plan as set forth as Section V. Water Conservation Officers will continue to patrol the Town to warn citizens against the use of prohibited practices and may issue citations or warnings for such violations.

Deposits – All new accounts for rental property will be required to place a $300 security deposit along with their application for utility service.  If property is rental property, the owner will be required to sign the acknowledgement that accompanies the application for the new account.  New account holders with local, state or federal rental assistance will be exempted from the security deposit with proof of such assistance.

Billing Policy – All bills are due and payable upon receipt.  Bills are due on the 20th of each month.  If a balance goes unpaid after the 20th of the month a 10% penalty will be added to the bill.  A second notice is mailed immediately after the penalty is applied/assessed.  The cut-off date is after the fifth (5th) day of the month following the due date of the original bill.  A $25 disconnect fee will be charged for any customer cut-off for non-payment and a $25 reconnect fee will be charges to restore service.  When restoration of service is then required, the past due bill, penalty and reconnection charge (availability charge) will be due before service is restored.

Unauthorized Connections/Cross-Connections – The connection for any other water supply to the Town’s system is strictly prohibited.  See Cross-Connection Control Policy – Section 190-46.1 – 46.11 Division 2 – Cross Connection Control; Backflow Prevention (Amended May 4, 2011) of the Code of the Town of Appomattox.

Cross-Connections of a private or an auxiliary water system to the Town’s public water system is restricted according to the WATERWORKS REGULATIONS FOR PUBLIC DRINKING WATER SUPPLY as adopted by the Commonwealth of Virginia Department of Public Health.

Use of Service – The new service applicant is expected to begin use of water within thirty (30) days from the date of which such service is made available.  Therefore, billing will commence at the end of this thirty-day period in accordance with prescribed rates, terms and conditions.

The Town of Appomattox reserves the right to review each request or service and evaluate both the requested service requirements and available system well and storage capacity.  Appropriate management of available system resources will be exercised by the Town Council with respect to new connections.

The Town of Appomattox reserves the right to institute any and all measures deemed necessary in the event of a natural disaster, emergency, drought or other conditions which impacts on the water system.  All measures considered will be as reasonable as possible.  Generally residential customer service, although it may be curtailed, will be given highest service priority.

Availability fees to be determined on the basis of equivalent residential connections and the equivalent residential availability charge.