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Home My WebLink AboutResolution 2006-184 approving the drought preparedness plan MARANA RESOLUTION NO. 2006-184 RELATING TO WATER SERVICE; APPROVING THE TOWN OF MARANA DROUGHT PREPAREDNESS PLAN. WHEREAS, Arizona is in the midst of a prolonged drought affecting water supplies in Southern Arizona; and WHEREAS, the Arizona Department of Water Resources is requiring that all water providers have a drought preparedness plan prepared by January 2007; and WHEREAS, the Marana Water Department has worked with the regional water providers to develop a plan that uniformly conserves water in the event the drought stages are declared; and WHEREAS, the Mayor and Council find that the drought responses and measures are in the best interest of the Town. NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE MAYOR AND COUNCIL OF THE TOWN OF MARANA, ARIZONA, AS FOLLOWS: Section 1. The Town of Maran a Drought Preparedness Plan, attached as Exhibit A is hereby approved. Section 2. The Mayor is authorized and directed to execute the Town of Marana Drought Preparedness Plan on behalf of the Town of Marana. Section 3. The various own officers and employees ofthe Town are authorized and directed to perform all acts necessary or desirable to give effect to this resolution. PASSED AND ADOPTED BY THE MAYOR AND COUNCIL OF THE TOWN OF MARANA, ARIZONA, this 14th day of November 2006. :\\,'\1 ~ I ~ 4\"'", ~ OF~.t~ ;;:. ..\. ~\\'''IJ''''''i! ~ ". ~ ~O~~~ ~#~ ~ ::: f.;; I CORPORAT( \. ~ ~ .. == t:X:X:) '= _ - .SEAL- - .. ~ is ... .....~ ~.... ~ ~ ~;: ~ -1 ~/Jlml\'\~ ~ ~/l'2'. "\g\\~ ifJiUU\\" ATTEST: RSO 061114 Drought Plan Rso 2006-184 d~ , Ed Honea, Mayor 2 APM 11114/2006 Town of Marana Drought Preparedness Plan Arizona is in the midst of a prolonged drought that has various impacts on our environment, specifically regarding water supplies in Southern Arizona. The drought does not immediately equate to water shortage however, because we are not running out of water. In fact, the Town of Marana (Marana) has a 100-year assured water supply designation from the State of Arizona. Additionally, Marana has been steadily working toward the use of renewable supplies rather than relying solely on our groundwater. The Arizona Department of Water Resources (ADWR) requires that all water providers have a Drought Preparedness Plan prepared by January 2007. While no water shortage exists, no one knows how long the current drought may last. Some climatologists are predicting that we are in a 20-30 year drought cycle; therefore, Marana feels it is important to have a Drought Preparedness Plan in place that can respond to a reduction of our available water supply due to a drought. Marana's Drought Preparedness Plan includes measures initiated based on the severity of the drought response. In the early stages of a drought, Marana will rely on its customers to voluntarily comply with requests for water reduction. Marana also has the capability to implement a drought surcharge to its rates, limit potable water for construction uses, and in the most severe drought response stage, not approve water service agreements for new construction projects. The main focus of Marana's Drought Preparedness Plan is to continue its overall objective of sound water management. A primary tool is the current cooperation with Oro Valley Water District, Metro Water District, and Flowing Wells Irrigation District to develop a Northwest Area Renewable Supply Treatment and Distribution System. By directly using Central Arizona Project (CAP) water, our groundwater well levels will be able to recover and, therefore; our wells can serve as a backup to the renewable supplies. Marana has decided to use information from Climate Assessment Project for the Southwest (CLIMAS) which brings together researchers who study the processes and effects of climate on the Southwest region with individuals and organizations who need climate information to make informed decisions. CLIMAS was established in 1998 to assess climate variability and longer- term climate change in terms of impacts on human and natural systems in the Southwest. The project's mission is to improve the ability of the region to respond sufficiently and appropriately to climatic events and climate changes. CLIMAS aims to foster participatory, iterative research involving researchers, decision makers, resource users, educators, and others who need more and better information about climate and its impacts. In support of these efforts, the project fosters research on the nature, causes, and consequences of climate change and variability in the Southwestern United States and supports efforts to improve climate forecasting in the region. CLIMAS is part of a larger federal government initiative to develop better-quality and more detailed climate assessments at the regional level. To this end, the project, which is housed within the Institute for the Study of Planet Earth at the University of Arizona, supports interdisciplinary research on past, current and future climates in the region and provides a focal point for identifying and serving the information needs of stakeholders at the local, state, national, and international levels. Marana's Drought Preparedness Plan includes four stages in response to the impacts of a drought on our available water supply, which currently is primarily groundwater. The stage then determines which measures are initiated. The stages are determined when any two of the triggers below are present. Trigger I: CLIMAS percent of average precipitation for the water year Trigger 2: CLIMAS drought monitor Trigger 3: Annual decline of the overall groundwater levels, and Trigger 4: The number of consecutive days over 100 degrees. Stage One (Moderate) is initiated when any two of the triggers are present. (1) CLIMAS percent of precipitation for the water year is 70% to 90% of normal. (2) CLIMAS drought monitor is D- 2: severe drought. (3) The annual decline of the overall groundwater level is between 1.0 feet to 2.4 feet. (4) Over 45 consecutive days of 100 degrees. In Stage One, Marana will increase customer awareness about the drought and water resources through education. Additionally, Marana will work with Pima County to put in place ordinances that strengthen Southern Arizona's conservation ethic. Marana will work with its neighboring water providers to look at cooperative efforts that include providing emergency backup as well as joint conservation efforts. Most importantly, Marana will continue its overall water management efforts to use renewable water supplies. In effect, Marana has been doing all of Stage One measures the last few years. Stage Two (Abnormally Dry) is initiated when any two of the triggers are present. (1) CLIMAS percent of precipitation for the water year is 50% to 70% of normal. (2) CLIMAS drought monitor is D-3: extreme drought. (3) The annual decline of the overall groundwater level is between 2.5 feet to 3.9 feet. (4) Over 60 consecutive days of 100 degrees. In Stage Two, Marana requests customers to limit landscape irrigation to two days per week between 8:00 p.m. and 8:00 a.m. as well as avoid other outdoor water uses; for example, hosing down walkways and washing vehicles without a bucket and hose with a positive cutoff nozzle. Hotels and restaurants will be asked to initiate industry green measures for conserving water, such as providing water only on request and washing sheets and towels only if requested. Under Stage Two, all of the measures of Stage One will be continued. Stage Three (Extreme) is initiated when any two of the triggers are present. (1) CLIMAS percent of precipitation for the water year is 25% to 50% of normal. (2) CLIMAS drought monitor is D- 4: exceptional. (3) The annual decline ofthe overall groundwater level is between 4.0 feet to 4.9 feet. (4) Over 75 consecutive days of 100 degrees. In Stage Three, Marana will not permit the use of potable water for construction, including dust control; reclaimed water will need to be used instead. Marana will consider instituting a drought surcharge to Tier 5 of the rate structure. Additional voluntary water reduction measures will be requested from customers including the limiting oflandscape irrigation to one day per week between 8:00 p.m. and 8:00 a.m. In addition to avoiding outdoor water uses, customers will be asked not to empty or fill their pools. The measures of Stage One and Stage Two will be continued as well. Stage Four (Severe) is initiated when any two of the triggers are present. (1) CLIMAS percent of precipitation for the water year is 25% of normal. (2) CLIMAS drought monitor is D-4: exceptional. (3) The annual decline ofthe overall groundwater level is 5.0 feet or more. (4) Over 90 consecutive days of 100 degrees. Under Stage Four, Marana will not approve water service agreements. Marana will consider instituting a drought surcharge to Tier 3 and Tier 4 of the rate structure in addition to the one for Tier 5. No potable water will be used for construction. Customers will be requested to limit landscape irrigation ONLY to trees and shrubs one day per week between 8:00 p.m. and 8:00 a.m. and no irrigation of turf or ground covers. Other previous measures will continue to be in effect. Town of Marana Water Department Drought plan-Marana (2) 2 Drought Response Plan Drought Responses Measures Stage I - Moderate · Increase Customers Awareness through Education CLIMAS % ave. precipitation · Work with County to put Ordinances in place for water year 70% - 90% . Continue Overall Water Management Efforts to Use CLIMAS drought monitor D-2 Renewable Water Supplies Overall Groundwater Levels · Work with Neighboring Water Providers 1.0' - 2.4' annual decline Over 45 consecutive days of 100 degrees Stage 2 - Abnormally Dry · Request Voluntary Water Reduction Measures CLIMAS % ave. precipitation - Limit Landscape Irrigation to 2 days per week between for water year 50% - 70% 8:00 p.m. and 8:00 a.m. CLIMAS drought monitor D-3 - Hotels and Restaurants will be asked to conserve water. Overall Groundwater Levels - A void other outdoor water uses including misters and car 2.5' - 3.9' annual decline washes Over 60 consecutive days of · Continue to work with County to Ordinances in place 100 degrees . Continue Overall Water Management Efforts to Use Renewable Water Supplies · Work with Neighboring Water Providers Stage 3 - Extreme · No Potable Water for Construction CLIMAS % ave. precipitation · Institute Drought Surcharge to Tier 5 of the Rate Structure for water year 25% - 50% . Request Additional Voluntary Water Reduction Measures CLIMAS drought monitor D-4 - Limit Landscape Irrigation to I day per week between 8:00 Overall Groundwater Levels p.m. and 8:00 a.m. 4.0' - 4.9' annual decline - Pools not be filled Over 75 consecutive days of · Continue to work with County to put Ordinances in place 100 degrees · Continue Overall Water Management Efforts to Use Renewable Water Supplies . Work with Neighboring Water Providers Stage 4 - Severe · No Approval for Water Service Agreements CLIMAS % ave. precipitation · Institute Drought Surcharge to Tier 3 and 4 of the Rate for water year less than 25% Structure in addition to Tier 5 CLIMAS drought monitor D-4 · No Potable Water for Construction Overall Groundwater Levels . Request Additional Voluntary Water Reduction Measures 5.0' and more annual decline - Limit Landscape Irrigation ONLY to trees and shrubs I Over 90 consecutive days of day per week between 8:00 p.m. and 8:00 a.m. 100 degrees - No irrigation of turf or ground covers · Continue to work with County to put Ordinances in place · Continue Overall Water Management Efforts to Use Renewable Water Supplies · Work with Neighboring Water Providers Drought plan-Marana (2) 3