A. 
Purpose. The purpose of this section is to provide for the declaration of phases of water supply shortages and for the implementation of voluntary and mandatory water conservation measures affecting the water customers of HWU in the event a shortage is declared.
B. 
Definitions. As used in this section, the following words and terms shall have the following meanings:
CUSTOMER
Any person using water for any purpose from HWU's water distribution system.
HWU
The Henderson Water Utility.
OUTSIDE WATER USE
Nonessential uses of water outside of buildings, including but not limited to: filling and operation of private swimming pools, water features, fountains and reflecting pools; noncommercial washing of motor vehicles, boats and trailers; and watering of lawns, gardens, playing fields and recreational areas, whether public or private.
RATIONING
Procedures established to provide for the fair distribution of critically limited water supplies, in order to balance demand and supply, and to assure that sufficient water is available to preserve public health and safety.
C. 
Water shortage phases. In order of increasing severity the following four phases of water shortage are hereby established:
(1) 
Phase 1, Advisory: When HWU finds that a potential shortage of potable water exists or will exist, HWU shall publicly declare a water shortage advisory, calling upon all customers of HWU to employ voluntary water conservation and to reduce the use of potable water.
(2) 
Phase 2, Alert: When HWU finds that a condition exists where it will not be able to meet the expected needs of its customers for water without a minimal level of water conservation, HWU shall publicly declare a water shortage alert, calling upon all customers to employ voluntary water conservation, and also to restrict outside water use to the following schedule:
(a) 
Outside water use for addresses ending in an odd number shall be limited to Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays; and
(b) 
Outside water use for addresses ending in an even number shall be limited to Wednesdays, Fridays and Sundays.
(3) 
Phase 3, Emergency: When HWU finds that it is unable to meet the expected needs of its customers, HWU shall publicly declare a water shortage emergency, calling upon customers to comply with mandatory water conservation to eliminate the waste of potable water. All outside water use shall be halted, and water shall be used only as necessary to sustain human life and the lives of domestic pets, to maintain minimum standards of hygiene and sanitation, to provide patient care and rehabilitation in health care facilities, for firefighting, and for essential health and public protection purposes.
(4) 
Phase 4, Rationing: When HWU finds that potable water is in critically short supply, and that the conditions specified in Subsection D below are determined to exist, HWU shall publicly declare water rationing. In the rationing phase, it is imperative that water customers achieve an immediate further reduction in water use in order to extend existing water supplies and, at the same time, assure that sufficient water is available to preserve the public health and sanitation and to provide fire protection service. The mandatory water conservation measures of the emergency phase shall apply, and in addition, HWU may institute temporary service interruptions to all or portions of the water supply system.
(5) 
Length of continuance of declaration: The declaration of a water shortage phase shall continue until HWU finds and publicly declares that the conditions calling for the declaration no longer exist.
D. 
Basis for rationing: Whenever HWU finds it necessary to allocate critically limited potable water supplies in order to balance water demand and supply, and to assure that sufficient water is available to preserve public health and safety, it shall be empowered to declare the adoption of mandatory rationing, when any of the following conditions are determined to exist:
(1) 
Mandated reductions in system-wide usage have not been achieved; or
(2) 
Mandated reductions in system-wide water usage have been achieved, but have failed to sufficiently extend limited water supplies; or
(3) 
Temporary service interruptions are necessary in order to further extend limited water supplies.
E. 
Notification: When it is determined that rationing through temporary service interruptions is necessary, HWU shall notify its customers through the public media (newspapers, radio, and television), at least one day prior to the temporary service interruptions that a planned, temporary service interruption is to be imposed. Such notice shall:
(1) 
State the day or days when the temporary service interruptions will occur, including the times when such temporary service interruptions will commence and cease;
(2) 
State whether the temporary service interruptions are to be imposed on the entire system or part thereof, and, if only parts of the system will experience temporary service interruptions, identify geographic boundaries within which such interruptions will occur; and
(3) 
Advise all customers within the areas affected by temporary service interruptions how to treat any water received from the system for human consumption, during the period of such interruptions and for such additional time as may be necessary until full pressure and water quality is restored in the system.
F. 
Rationing for hospital facilities: If a temporary service interruption is imposed as authorized by this section, it must provide for the continued delivery of water to hospital facilities within the area affected by such interruption by means of any adequate, alternative delivery measures that may be necessary.
G. 
Regulations: During the effective period of any water supply shortage, the HWU General Manager is empowered to issue such regulations as may be necessary to carry out the provisions of this section. Such regulations shall be subject to the approval of the City of Henderson Water and Sewer Commission at its next meeting.
H. 
Violations: Any person who violates the provisions of Subsection C(2) of this section shall be subject to a fine not to exceed $250. Any person who violates the provisions of Subsection C(3) of this section shall be subject to a fine not to exceed $250 and disconnection of water service. A fee of $100 shall be paid for reconnection of any water service disconnected pursuant to this section.