Title
Consider and take action on Ordinance No. 2024-28 amending Chapter 114 of the Code of Ordinances of the City of League City, entitled “Utilities” by repealing Article VI entitled “Drought Contingency Plan” and incorporating an updated plan - Second Reading (Director of Public Works)
Council approved first reading 8-0-0 on August 13, 2024.
Background:
Should this ordinance be approved, it will amend the City’s 2019 Drought Contingency Plan (DCP). Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) requires DCPs to be reviewed and revised if needed every 5-years. In 2019 the City’s DCP was revised to meet the needs of the City’s current water distribution system. The proposed 2024 revision requires zero revisions to the DCP language other than revising pertinent information related to the City’s change in population, capacities, etc.
State law requires that the City have such a plan, which is intended to protect the City’s water supply and ensure that critical water needs are met in case of drought or other circumstances that may disrupt the normal availability of the City’s water supplies. Highlights of the 2024 DCP include: (further details in Attachment 2)
1. DCP Action Stages:
• Stage 1 (Voluntary) - Residential and non-residential customers requested to voluntarily limit outdoor watering between 9:00 a.m. and 7:00 p.m., voluntarily limited to twice per week on their trash days and encouraged to follow conservation-based actions, noted in DCP
• Stage 2 (Mandatory) - Prohibit residential and non-residential outdoor watering between 9:00 a.m. and 7:00 p.m., limited to twice per week on customers’ trash days (Figure 2, Page 17 in DCP), limits non-essential water usage
• Stage 3 (Mandatory Severe) - Prohibit residential and non-residential outdoor watering between 9:00 a.m. and 7:00 p.m., limited to once per week on designated days (Figure 3, Page 19 in DCP), limits non-essential water usage
• Stage 4 (Emergency) - All landscape irrigation and non-essential water use is prohibited
2. Prescribed irrigation days aligned with solid waste collection zones - Twice per week watering (Ref. Figure 1 and Figure 2); Once per week watering (Ref. Figure 3)
3. Allowable watering times on prescribed days: 12:00 a.m. to 9:00 a.m. and 7:00 p.m. to midnight
4. Stage initiation triggers: (current surface water capacity 28.044 MGD)
• Stage 1 (Voluntary) - Total daily water demand exceeds 75 percent of available contracted surface water sources for three (3) consecutive days; or Total daily water demand exceeds 85 percent of available contracted surface water sources on a single day
• Stage 2 (Mandatory) - Total daily water demand exceeds 85 percent of available contracted surface water sources for three (3) consecutive days; or Total daily water demand exceeds 95 percent of available contracted surface water sources on a single day
• Stage 3 (Mandatory Severe) - Total daily water demand exceeds 90 percent of available contracted surface water sources for three (3) consecutive days; or Total daily water demand exceeds 98 percent of available contracted surface water sources on a single day
• Stage 4 (Emergency) - Total daily water demand exceeds 95 percent of available contracted surface water sources for three (3) consecutive days; or the system pressure falls below 35 psi on any single occasion
5. All Stages terminate when initiation conditions no longer prevail for a period of seven (7) days; or water supply shortage has ended
6. Allows City Manager or his/her official designee discretionary flexibility to initiate or terminate stages based on weather related influences, water distribution and supply deficiencies, and other unforeseen circumstances
7. Continues to allow watering with attended hand-held hose with positive shut-off device at any time except for Stage 4 Emergency Status
Attachments:
1. Ordinance No. 2024-28
2. Exhibit A - 2024 Drought Contingency and Water Emergency Management Plan
FUNDING
{X} NOT APPLICABLE
STRATEGIC PLANNING
{X} Addresses Strategic Planning Critical Success Factor #1: Develop and Maintain City Infrastructure