Water Supply Emergency Curtailment Plan

This plan is designed to guide water management staff in the event of a water shortage. 

System Capacity and Historical Water Shortages 

The current maximum production capacity for the Corvallis water system is 24.5 million gallons per day (mgd) – approximately 3.5 mgd from the Rock Creek Water Treatment Plant and 21 mgd from the Taylor Water Treatment Plant. There are nine reservoirs in the distribution system that provide a total of 23 million gallons of treated water storage. Except in emergency situations, these reservoirs must be maintained at minimum levels to provide water for fire suppression. 

Maximum daily demand has been as high as 13.4 mgd in July, 1999 and 13.8 mgd in June, 2000. Since 1987, the greatest daily demand recorded was 15.9 mgd. Treatment capacity is greater than historic demand. Should treatment capacity be reduced by some unforeseen circumstance, the production deficit can be supplied from water stored in the system's reservoirs for a limited time. Using stored water to meet maximum daily demands, however, puts the utility at risk for meeting crisis water demands (e.g., a significant fire requiring large quantities of water or a spill in the Willamette River which makes the water unusable for an extended period of time). 

The potential for such a scenario prompted the City to develop a water curtailment plan. In 1994, the City Council adopted the city's first water curtailment plan. In July 1994, Stage 1of the curtailment plan was put into effect as daily water demands exceeded production capacity for four consecutive days. This is the only time the curtailment plan has been executed, and since then the treatment capacity from the Taylor plant has been increased from 14.5 mgd to 21 mgd. 

Water Shortage Identification 

Some situations may occur that create the potential for a supply shortage. These situations include but are not limited to:

• An extended period of dry, hot weather
• Water rights withdrawal limitations
• Contamination of source water supplies (Willamette River and/or Rock Creek)
• Interruption of commercial power supply to a critical part of the City water system (Taylor Water Treatment Plant or water pumping stations)
• Major water transmission line break
• Reservoir failure
• Other major catastrophic event.

If one or more of these scenarios creates the need for water curtailment, the actions taken will vary depending on the time of year and the expected duration of the situation. The following guidelines will be considered during a curtailment event:

• Maximize public health and safety
• Meet Safe Drinking Water Act standards
• Minimize disruption to the public
• Protect and enhance the public's trust in the City
• Be consistent in phasing in curtailment measures as water shortage continues
• Apply measures in a fair and equitable manner in the best interest of the public
• Maximize coordination of responses with other departments within the City
• Minimize impact on the environment
• Limit liability

In general, the response to a water shortage is development of strategies that create a reduction in daily demand for water. This water curtailment plan identifies four stages of water shortage. The first stage is an alert to the potential of a water shortage, and the fourth stage is a critical water shortage that threatens the ability of the City to deliver water to customers for life sustaining and safety needs. 

Water Curtailment Measures 

These curtailment measures consist of four severity stages, and they can affect the city as a whole or only specified service areas. At each stage, restrictions imposed at the previous level(s) remain in force. The plan provides flexibility and enforcement capability. At any stage, additional restrictions can be imposed if they are deemed necessary. In some extreme cases, some stages can be skipped (e.g., expectation of an extended water production capacity reduction). Should the plan have to be implemented, notification to the general public will be primarily through the local news media. Direct contact will be made with large customers and institutions as the need requires. 

Stage 1 - Early Warning for a Potential Water Supply Shortage 

The Stage 1 warning is reached when maximum daily production is just meeting the daily demand, or when there is expectation of a potential supply deficiency. When such a situation occurs, the Water Operations Supervisor, Water Maintenance Supervisor, Utilities Division Manager and on duty water operations staff (the Water Utilities Management team) will meet to assess the situation. If the Water Utilities Management team determines that a potential water shortage does exist, the team will consult with the Public Works Director. Under a Stage 1 warning, the Director has the authority to activate some or all of the voluntary curtailment measures described below. 

Actions for which the City has direct control are the easiest to curtail:

1. The City will limit water use for street sweeping and hydrant & water line flushing.
2. City Parks and Recreation Department shall irrigate at maximum efficiency.
3. The Fire Department will limit training exercises to those that do not use water.
4. The City will make conservation information available at the Public Library, Utility Billing and other City offices, local news media, and to neighborhood associations.
5. The City will remind customers of Corvallis's water waste ordinance (Municipal Code 3.01.250).

Stage 1 curtailment for citizens will be voluntary. The City will request that customers reduce or eliminate nonessential water use, to follow odd/even outdoor watering schedules based on address, and to limit outdoor watering to the early morning or late evening. 

Stage 2 - Water Supply Shortage 

A Stage 2 water shortage is reached when maximum production is not meeting daily demand and reservoir storage falls to 90% capacity. The Water Utilities Management team will assess the situation daily, and may initiate the following restrictions:

1. Activate a conservation hotline with information on the current water supply situation, voluntary curtailment measures, and conservation tips (541-766-6733).
2. Limit Corvallis Parks & Recreation Department nonessential water use, and irrigate only in off-peak hours.
3. Limit hydrant and water main flushing to emergencies only.
4. Ask customers to voluntarily restrict all irrigation and other nonessential outdoor water use and to limit all outdoor water use to the hours between 8:00 pm and 8:00 am. The following practices are deemed nonessential:
   1. Watering or irrigating of lawns, grass or turf except for: 
      • New installations after March 1 of the current calendar year. 
      • Athletic fields frequently used for organized play. 
      • Park and recreation areas of a particular significance and value to the community as approved by the City Manager. 
   2. Use of City-supplied water to wash sidewalks, streets, driveways, walkways, parking lots or other impervious surfaces except where necessary for public health or safety. 
   3. Use of City-supplied water to wash vehicles (including boats and watercraft) except at facilities equipped with water recirculation equipment or where necessary for public health or safety (e.g., garbage trucks or food transport) or as required by law.

Stage 3 - Severe Water Supply Shortage 

A Stage 3 water shortage is reached when maximum production is not meeting daily demand and reservoir storage falls to 80% capacity. The Water Utilities Management team will assess the situation daily. The Public Works Director will notify the City Manager and City Council of the shortage and submit a report of what measures are being implemented. At Stage 3, the Public Works Director may declare a Water Emergency (Municipal Code 3.01.251). The Public Works Department will keep the media notified regularly about the status of the shortage, and may initiate the following restrictions: 

All outdoor nonessential water use shall be prohibited except where necessary for public health or safety or as noted in the exceptions below. Violators may be cited and water service may be discontinued for repeat violations per Municipal Code 3.01.252. The following practices are deemed nonessential:

1. Watering or irrigation of lawns, grass or turf shall not occur unless it is: 
   • New lawn, grass or turf that has been seeded or sodded after March 1 of the calendar year in which the restrictions are imposed, and in such cases watering may only occur until the vegetation is established. Such watering shall occur only between the hours of 8:00 pm and 8:00 am. 
   • Park and recreation areas of a particular significance and value to the community as approved by the City Manager. Such watering shall occur only between the hours of 8:00 pm and 8:00 am.
2. Use of City-supplied water to clean, fill or maintain levels in decorative streams, ponds or fountains unless it has a recirculating water system.
3. Use of City-supplied water to fill swimming, wading or other pools with a capacity in excess of 100 gallons. Water may be added to swimming pools to replace volume lost due to evaporation and normal loss due to usage. 
4. Use of City-supplied water to wash down sidewalks, streets, driveways, walkways, parking lots or other impervious surfaced areas except where necessary for public health or safety. 
5. Use of City-supplied water to wash vehicles (including boats and watercraft) except at facilities equipped with water recirculation equipment. Washing of vehicles for public health and safety purposes (e.g., garbage trucks or food transport) is allowed as required by law.

Stage 4 - Critical Water Shortage 

A Stage 4 water shortage is reached when maximum production is not meeting daily demand and reservoir storage falls to 60% capacity. Because a water shortage of this severity threatens the ability of the City to deliver essential water supplies to its customers and provide adequate water storage and pressure for fire suppression, Stage 4 restrictions are mandatory. 

The Public Works Director will notify the City Manager and City Council of the shortage and submit a report of what measures are being implemented. At Stage 4, the Public Works Director may declare a Water Emergency (Municipal Code 3.01.251). The Public Works Department will keep the media notified regularly about the status of the shortage, and may initiate the following restrictions:

1. All outdoor nonessential water use shall be prohibited except where necessary for public health or safety. Violators may be cited and water service discontinued for repeat violations per Municipal Code 3.01.252. Good Samaritan Hospital and The Corvallis Clinic will be provided with water as long as possible. 
2. All large industrial and institutional accounts shall restrict water use to fire protection and other critical functions only. 
3. Customers who receive water service from the City of Corvallis but who reside outside the City limits may have their water service disconnected temporarily. 
4. The Corvallis Fire Department shall modify operations as necessary to maintain stored water levels and system water pressure for as long as possible. Public Works shall work closely with the Fire Department to alert them of areas where there may be low pressures and/or supply.
5. In the event that a service level or other area of the city is without water, potable water shall be made available at appropriate locations within the city limits. Water shall be trucked to these sites and dispensed free of charge to City water customers.

The Water Emergency shall be in effect until such time as the Public Works Director notifies the City Manager when, in his/her opinion, the water shortage is over and an emergency situation no longer exists. 

Relevant Municipal Codes 

Section 3.010.250 Water waste. Where water is wastefully or negligently used on a customer's premises, the utility may discontinue the service if such conditions are not corrected within five days after giving the customer written notice. (Ord. 2000-10 § 2, 05/15/2000; Ord. 58-65 § 23, 1958) 

Section 3.01.251 Declaration of water emergency; order. The utility may, by written order of the Public Works Director, declare a water emergency and impose such limits on water use or consumption as it deems necessary under the circumstances. The utility shall provide as much notice to the public of the order and limits imposed as is practicable under the circumstances. Any deficiency in the notice given shall not affect the validity of the order. (Ord. 94-17 § 1, 06/06/94) 

Section 3.01.252 Water use contrary to emergency order prohibited. Use of water by any person contrary to the limits imposed by any water emergency order is prohibited. Each such use shall be considered a separate violation, punishable as described in section 3.01.310. (Ord. 2000-10 § 2, 05/15/2000; Ord. 94-17 § 1, 06/06/94) 

Section 3.001.310 Penalty. Any person violating any of the provisions of this Code shall, upon conviction thereof, be punished by a fine not exceeding $500, or by imprisonment in the County jail for a period not exceeding six months, or by both such a fine and imprisonment. Each day on which a violation occurs or continues shall be deemed a separate and distinct offense. (Ord. 2000-10 § 2, 05/15/2000; Ord. 58-65 § 27, 1958)