[Adopted 9-16-1986 by Ord.
No. 790]
A.
At such time as the average daily flow of Ridley Creek
falls below 6.8 million gallons per day or the average daily flow of Chester
Creek falls below 14.0 million gallons per day or at any time when the average
daily flow of both streams together falls below 20.8 million gallons per day,
a drought watch shall be in effect.
B.
At such time as a drought watch is in effect, the Media
Water Company shall by all reasonable methods notify the users of water of
Media Water Company of the condition and recommend to such users a voluntary
restriction of water use, restricting consumption by approximately 5% to 10%
of the normal use as measured by water consumption for the same quarter of
a year of the previous year.
C.
The measures of communication may include newspaper publication,
notification by cable television and notification by information contained
in water bills.
D.
Water users shall be urged to voluntarily restrict all
nonessential uses of water, including the use of water for watering lawns;
the use of water for irrigation and watering outdoor gardens, landscaped areas,
trees, shrubs and other outdoor plants by means other than by hand-held hose;
the use of water for washing paved surfaces, such as streets, roads, driveways,
garage parking areas, tennis courts and patios; the voluntary restriction
of water used for ornamental purposes, including fountains, artificial waterfalls
and reflecting pools; the use of water for washing or cleaning automobiles,
trucks, trailers and boats; the voluntary restriction of the use of water
in restaurants and eating places unless specifically requested; and the voluntary
restriction on the use of water for filling or topping off swimming pools.
E.
During the period of time of a drought watch, all water
users are requested to undertake a survey to determine any leakage which may
be taking place as a result of inefficient appliances and valves. Customers
will be urged to compare water usages with similar water usages in the year
prior thereto and, if water use appears to be higher, to undertake an inspection
to determine if any leaks or waste is taking place.
F.
During the period of time of a drought watch, the Borough
of Media, operating the Media Water Company, shall continue to inform the
public as to the continuation of the drought watch, the termination of the
drought watch or the onset of a drought warning.
A.
At such time as the stream flow of Ridley Creek falls
below 5.91 million gallons per day (Media's capacity plus flow-by required)
or the average daily flow of Chester Creek falls below 13 million gallons
per day (Media's capacity plus flow-by required) or at any time when the average
daily flow of both streams together falls below 18.91 million gallons per
day (Media's capacity plus flow-by required), a drought warning shall be declared.
In the period of time of a drought warning, all nonessential use of water
is prohibited. The following are considered nonessential uses of water:
(1)
The use of hoses, sprinklers or other means for the sprinkling
or watering of shrubbery, trees, lawns, grass, plants, vines, gardens, vegetables,
flowers or other vegetation.
(2)
The use of water for washing automobiles, trucks, trailers,
trailer houses or any other type of mobile equipment.
(3)
The washing of streets, driveways, parking lots, service
station aprons, office buildings, exteriors of homes, sidewalks, apartments
or other outdoor surfaces.
(4)
The operation of any ornamental fountain or other structure
making a similar use of water.
(5)
The use of water for filling swimming or wading pools.
(6)
The operation of any water-cooled comfort air conditioning
which does not have water-conserving equipment.
(7)
The use of water from fire hydrants for construction
purposes or fire drills.
(8)
The use of water to flush a sewer line or sewer manhole.
(9)
The use of water for commercial farms and nurseries other
than a bare minimum to preserve plants, crops and livestock.
B.
Notice of the drought warning condition shall be sent
to all customers and other reasonable methods shall be used, which may include
notice of the effect by newspaper advertisement and notification by cable
television.
C.
The drought warning shall continue until formally removed
or until a drought emergency is declared by the Borough of Media.
D.
Procedures for exemption from nonessential water use
restriction.
(1)
If the compliance with the nonessential use of water
restrictions would result in extraordinary hardship upon a water user, the
user may apply for an exemption.
(2)
For the purpose of this subsection, "extraordinary hardship"
means a permanent damage to property or other personal or economic loss which
is substantially more severe than the sacrifices borne by other water users
subject to the nonessential use of water restrictions.
(3)
A person or business believing an extraordinary hardship
will exist and desiring to be wholly or partially exempt from the restrictions
may apply for an exemption under the following procedures: by making an application
to the Secretary of the Borough of Media specifying the nature of the hardship
claimed and the reason for the exemption. The application shall include the
efforts taken by the applicant to otherwise conserve water without suffering
the extraordinary hardship. The application shall be heard by the Council
of the Borough of Media or by a person designated to hear such matters, and,
upon review, the Borough Council shall make its determination, in writing,
within 10 days of the date of application.
(4)
The exemption shall be granted only to the extent necessary
to relieve extraordinary hardships. The exemption approved by the Council
may be modified or rescinded should public health, safety or welfare require
further reduction of water use.
E.
Penalties and enforcement. Any person who violates the
restrictions imposed under the drought warning may be subject to the restriction
of water by the water company either by adjusting the outside water valve
connection in a manner which will restrict the water flow by up to 1/2 or
otherwise restricting the flow of water to the property.
A.
At such time as the average daily flow in Ridley Creek
falls below 5.5 million gallons per day (allocations without flow-by) or the
average daily flow of Chester Creek falls below 8.5 million gallons per day
(allocations without flow-by) or at any time when the average daily flow of
both streams together falls below 14 million gallons per day (allocations
without flow-by) and, in addition, when it appears by the judgment of the
Media Water Company that it is unable to supply all of the needs of the users
of the Media Water Company without a restriction of water use of up to 20%,
a drought emergency shall be declared.
B.
The objective of the water rationing plan is to achieve
immediate and significant reduction in the water use in the areas served by
the Media Water Company 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 provide fire protection services. Water rationing
is designed to effect an immediate twenty-five-percent reduction in water
usage. In addition to the prohibitions imposed by the declaration of the drought
warning conditions as hereinbefore stated and if a drought warning condition
has not previously been declared, all of the restrictions on nonessential
uses shall take place.
C.
The following water use restrictions for residential
users will be in effect:
(1)
Metered residential water customers:
(a)
Each dwelling unit household shall be allotted 40 gallons
per day for each resident of the household. Households with only one permanent
resident will have a daily allotment of 55 gallons per day.
(b)
Residential water customers of the Media Water Company
shall provide personnel of the Water Company with reasonable access to read
meters as necessary to implement this rationing plan. Where access is not
readily available, the water company shall make all reasonable efforts to
contact the customers in order to arrange for access to read the water meters.
In the event that a water customer does not allow the water company personnel
to enter and read the meter, the dwelling unit will be reduced to 55 gallons
per day.
D.
Hardship. Where residential water allotment provided
under this section would create extraordinary hardship in the case of special
health requirements, the customer may apply to the water company for an exemption
or variance from these requirements. If the water company finds that the allotment
provided in this section would impose extraordinary hardship, the company
may establish a revised allotment for the particular customer. Any person
aggrieved by the decision of the water company may file a complaint with the
Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission according to the procedures established
under the Public Utility Code or, in the case of a customer residing within
the Borough of Media, an appeal may be filed in the Court of Common Pleas
of Delaware County according to the provisions of the Local Agency Law.
E.
Nonmetered residential water customers. In order to effectively
implement and monitor the residential water conservation effort, a water allotment
shall be established for the entire water system based on 40 gallons per day
per capita served or 75% of the water used by the entire system during the
same quarter of the preceding year, whichever is greater. The conservation
methods for nonmetered customers will be effected by means of written communication
to said nonmetered residential customers requiring the following:
(1)
Locate and repair all leaks in faucets, toilets and water-using
appliances.
(2)
Use automatic washing machines and dishwashers only with
full loads.
(3)
Take shorter showers and shallower baths.
(4)
Install flow restrictors in showerheads and faucets.
(5)
Reduce the number of toilet flushes per day.
F.
Water use restrictions for nonresidential water customers.
(1)
Nonresidential water customers shall include commercial,
industrial, institutional, public and all other users, with the exception
of hospitals and health care facilities. Nonresidential water customers shall
reduce their water usage by a minimum of 25% of the use levels for the same
quarter of the preceding year. The Media Water Company hereby establishes
a water allotment for each nonresidential water customer based on a required
twenty-five-percent reduction in water usage from the rate of water used by
the customer in the same quarter of the preceding year.
(2)
Each nonresidential water user shall provide access to
the water company for the purpose of meter reading and monitoring the compliance
with its plan.
(3)
If the twenty-five-percent reduction cannot be obtained
without imposing extraordinary hardship threatening the health and safety
of nonresidential customers, the nonresidential customer may apply to the
water company for an exemption for these purposes. "Extraordinary hardship"
means a permanent damage to property or economic loss which is substantially
more severe than the sacrifices borne by other water users subject to this
water rationing plan. If such an extraordinary hardship is to be suffered,
the water company may grant an exemption and establish a revised water use
reduction requirement for the particular customer. Any person aggrieved by
a decision relating to such exemption may file a complaint with the Pennsylvania
Public Utility Commission, if the customer exists beyond the corporate boundaries
of the Borough of Media, or with the Court of Common Pleas of Delaware County
if the customer is within the Borough of Media.
G.
Water use restrictions for hospitals and health care
facilities.
(1)
Hospitals and health care facilities shall comply with
all restrictions imposed on all residential and nonresidential water customers
as may be applicable to each individual institution, to the extent that compliance
will not endanger the health of the patients or residents of the institution.
(2)
Each hospital and health care facility shall survey its
water usage patterns and requirements and implement such additional conservation
measures as may be possible without endangering the health of patients or
residents to achieve a twenty-five-percent reduction in the institution's
water usage. The methods of reduction of water usage shall be:
H.
Enforcement of the water rationing plan.
(1)
In order to effectuate the water rationing plan, the
Media Water Company does hereby establish a plan of temporary service interruptions
for all or part of its water supply system as the water company shall deem
appropriate. It may be called into effect when the following occurs:
(a)
A twenty-five-percent reduction in system-wide water
usage shall not be achieved.
(b)
A twenty-five-percent reduction has been achieved but
has failed to have a significant impact in extending the limited water supply
and/or temporary service interruptions are necessary to extend the limited
or dwindling water supply.
(2)
In the event that the Media Water Company determines
that temporary service interruptions are necessary, the water company shall
notify customers through the use of newspapers, cable television and, if efficient,
by mail of the planned temporary service interruption to be imposed. The notice
shall indicate the day or days when temporary service interruption will occur,
the times when such temporary service interruption will begin and end and
notify customers that, during times of the temporary service interruption,
any water received from the system shall be for human consumption until such
time as full pressure is restored to the system. When temporary service interruption
is authorized, the water company will provide for continuous delivery of water
to health care facilities by means of adequate alternative delivery measures.
I.
Penalties.
(1)
Any residential or nonresidential water customer who
exceeds the allotments established pursuant to this water rationing plan will
be subject to the following excess use charges:
(a)
Excess use charges shall be based upon the amounts by
which a customer's use exceeds the water allotment established pursuant to
the water rationing plan, computed in accordance with the following schedule:
|
Excess Usage Per Month
|
Charge for Excess
| |
|---|---|---|
|
First 2,000 gallons or portion thereof
|
$7.00 per 1,000 gallons or portion thereof
| |
|
Each 1,000 gallons or portion thereof
|
$15.00 per 1,000 gallons or portion thereof
|
(2)
Any money collected through excess use charges shall
not be accounted for as income to the water company but shall be placed in
a reserve account and shall be governed as follows:
(a)
The funds collected shall be disposed of as directed
by the orders and procedures adopted by the Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission.
(b)
Any funds collected which are not subject to the jurisdiction
of the Public Utility Commission shall be disposed of in accordance with the
directions of the Commonwealth Drought Coordinator.
(3)
In addition to the excess use charges, noncompliance
with the water rationing plan will result in the following:
(a)
For the first excess use, a warning of possible discontinuation
shall be given.
(b)
For the second or subsequent excess use, the Media Water
Company may shut off services to the customer for a period not to exceed 48
hours. The costs incurred for shutoff and for reinstating services shall be
assessed to the water customer by the Media Water Company.
J.
The Media Water Company may alter its reading schedules
to assure adequate monitoring and compliance with this plan.
K.
The Media Water Company will initiate an extensive program
of leak detection with the use of leak detection equipment. All leaks detected
will be immediately repaired under the program.
