LeakBird

(Feb. 19, 2009, Napa Valley Register)

The American Canyon city manager now has the power to order water use restrictions if the drought continues.

Under the new rules approved unanimously by City Council on Tuesday, business and residents who use too much water will pay a premium fee. Customers who already use little water will not have to pay a surcharge. And those who prove they have taken steps to reduce their water usage will be granted waivers. The city plans to spend $6,500 to inspect water leaks during a declared drought emergency.

Under the new rules, the city manager could order either Stage 2, Stage 3, or Stage 4 water emergency alerts.

Stage 1 water conservation measures are already in place, requiring residents to cut water use by 10 percent.

Residents would have to reduce their water consumption by 20 percent in Stage 2, 30 percent in Stage 3 and 50 percent in Stage 4. Under stages 3 and 4, residential, commercial and industrial lawn watering would be prohibited at all times; people would be allowed irrigate only by using a hand-held nozzle and would not be able to plant annual plants.

(Original Post Here)

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