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Title 6: Health And Sanitation (June 26, 1990)

Chapter 6.40: WATER CONSERVATION PLAN

Sections:

  • 6.40.010 Findings
  • 6.40.020 Purpose
  • 6.40.030 Water Regulations
  • 6.40.040 Exceptions
  • 6.40.050 Notice and Penalties

6.40.010 Findings

The Town Council finds that by reason of an apparent overdraft of the water table and because of the current problem existing with respect to the over use of the waste of water in connection with the irrigation of landscape and other outdoor vegetation, lawns, and other growth, it is necessary to adopt and enforce a water conservation plan to conserve the water supplies of the Town for the greatest public benefit with particular regard to domestic use, sanitation, and fire protection; and it is the intent of the Town Council to achieve at least an approximately 10% reduction in water use.

6.40.020 Purpose

The Town finds that certain water uses regulated or prohibited in this ordinance are non-essential and if allowed would constitute wastage of water.

6.40.030 Water Regulations

  1. No water user within the Town of Apple Valley shall knowingly make, cause, use, or permit the use of water for residential, commercial, industrial, agricultural or any other purpose in the manner contrary to any provision of this Chapter.
  2. All water users in the Town of Apple Valley shall abide by the following water conservation measures.
    1. The use of water for any purpose shall not result in flooding or runoff in gutters, driveways, streets or adjacent lands.
    2. Lawns, trees, shrubs, and other landscaping shall not be watered beyond what they need for growth and to sustain life, and water shall not be permitted to pool or to run off property onto streets or adjacent land.
    3. Sidewalks, walkways, driveways, parking areas, patios, porches or verandahs or any other like area shall not be washed off with water from hoses or by any other means. The exception to this shall be the washing of flammable or other similar dangerous substances that require direct hose flushing using recognized safety control measures for the benefit of the public health and safety. Notification to the Town of such wash down is required.
    4. Water, sprinkling, aerial watering or irrigating of any landscaped or vegetated areas, including lawns, trees, shrubs, grass, ground cover, plants, vines, gardens, vegetables, flowers, or other landscaping shall not occur between the hours of 9:00 a.m. and 6:00 p.m. during the months of April through September provided, however, that these restrictions shall not apply to hand-held hose or drip irrigation systems or to establishment of new lawns, landscaping, or gardens.
    5. Non-commercial washing of privately owned vehicles, trailers, motor homes, buses, boats and mobile homes is prohibited except from a bucket, and except that a hose equipped with an automatic shut-off nozzle may be used for a quick rinse.
    6. Water shall not be used to clean, fill, operate or maintain levels in decorative fountains unless such water is for replenishment of a recycling system.
    7. Water lines, faucets, and other facilities shall be maintained so that they do not leak water. Existing leaks shall be repaired in a timely manner.
    8. Restaurants, other food establishments, or other public places where food is served, shall not routinely provide glasses of drinking water to customers unless specifically requested by the customer.
    9. Water for construction purposes including, but not limited to, debrushing of vacant land, compaction of fills and pads, trench backfill and other construction uses, shall be used in an efficient manner. The use of aerial type sprinklers is not recommended but, if used, shall not be operated between the hours of 9:00 a.m. and 6:00 p.m..
    10. All new residential, commercial and industrial construction shall be equipped with low-flush toilets and low-flow showers and faucets.
    11. Water used for cooling systems must be recycled to the extent possible.
    12. Evaporation resistant covers are required for all new swimming pools and hot tubs and are encouraged to be installed for existing pools. The covers required by this ordinance shall, at the time of purchase, installation and all subsequent maintenance, meet or exceed current standards and specifications for swimming pool, spa and hot tub covers adopted by the American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM).
    13. Hotels/motels are required to post a notice in substantially the form provided by the Town of Apple Valley urging guests to conserve water.
    14. All current and future water customers are encouraged to install flow restrictors or pressure reducers and to install toilet tank displacement devices (dams, bottles or bags), and as appliances or fixtures wear out, replace them with water-saving models.
    15. Parks, schools, golf courses, cemeteries, school grounds and all public use lands shall not irrigate between the hours of 9:00 a.m. and 6:00 p.m. during the months of April through September inclusive and are encouraged to use water conservation irrigation equipment.
    16. The use of drought tolerant or native plant material is encouraged for exterior landscaping in all new residential, and required for new commercial and industrial construction.
    17. The use of low precipitation sprinkler heads, bubblers, drip irrigation and timing devices are required in the exterior landscaping in all new residential, commercial and industrial construction.
    18. At least 50% of all new model homes shall include as a part of the exterior landscape development low water use, drought-tolerant or native plants.
    19. Projects, including Commercial and Planned Unit Developments, which utilize recycled water from sewage treatment or agricultural operations, may receive an exemption from paragraphs (15) through (18) of this Section by approval of the Town Council.

6.40.040 Exception

The prohibited or restricted uses of water under this Chapter shall not be applicable in those instances when the Town Manager or his designee finds:

  1. The use is essential to avoid an undue hardship for a water user;
  2. Special circumstances exist for a particular water user, as distinguished from other water users, which justify allowing an exception;
  3. The use is essential for required government or public utility services, including but not limited to police protection, fire protection, sanitation, and other critical or emergency services; or
  4. The use is essential to maintain the public health and safety.

(Amended - Ord. #58, 7-24-90)

6.40.050 Penalties

Any person who violates any provision or who fails to comply with any of the requirement of this Chapter shall be guilty of an infraction and, upon conviction thereof, shall be punished in accordance with the provisions of Sections 1.01.200 through 1.01.230 of Chapter 1.01 of Title 1 of this Code. (Amended Ord. 156, adopted 11-14-95)

Source: AppleValley.org