Conditions for the declaration of potential shortage of water.
Norfolk City Code § 46.1-54
in effectSec. 46.1-54. - Conditions for the declaration of potential shortage of water.
Upon a determination by the city manager of the existence of the following conditions, the city manager shall take the following actions:
(1) Condition 1. When moderate but limited supplies of water are available, the city manager shall, through appropriate means, call upon the general population to employ prudent restraint in water usage, and to conserve water voluntarily by whatever methods are available.
(2) Condition 2. When very limited supplies of water are available, the city manager shall order curtailment of less essential usages of water, including, but not limited to, one or more of the following:
a. The watering of shrubbery, trees, lawns, grass, plants, or any other vegetation, except indoor plantings, greenhouse or nursery stocks and except watering by commercial nurseries of freshly planted plants upon planting and once a week for five (5) weeks following planting.
b. The washing of automobiles, trucks, trailers, boats, airplanes, or any other types of mobile equipment, excepting in facilities operating with a water recycling system approved by the director of utilities, or except from a bucket or other container not exceeding three (3) gallons in capacity; provided, however, that any facility operating with an approved water recycling system shall prominently display in public view a notice stating that such recycling system is in operation. In lieu of the provisions hereof the city manager may curtail the hours of operation of commercial enterprises offering such services or washing their own equipment.
c. The washing of streets, driveways, parking lots, service station aprons, office buildings, exteriors of home or apartments, or other outdoor surfaces, except by commercial washing/cleaning services or except from a bucket or other container not exceeding three (3) gallons of capacity.
d. The operation of any ornamental fountain or other structure making similar use of water.
e. The filling of swimming and/or wading pools, or the refilling of swimming and/or wading pools which were drained after the effective date of the order.
f. The use of water from fire hydrants for any purpose other than fire suppression or other emergency except as authorized by the director of utilities.
g. The serving of drinking water in restaurants, cafeterias or any food establishment unless requested by the individual.
h. The director of utilities may authorize exceptions to the restrictions imposed by conditions 1 and 2.
(3) Condition 3. When supplies of water are critically limited, the city manager shall institute mandatory reductions on each customer which include those restrictions applicable to condition 2 as well as reductions of water to each customer as follows:
a. At the city manager's discretion, allocations of water to customers shall be based on either a twenty-five (25) percent reduction based on the average of the last twelve (12) months' billing and/or water consumption data available from similar activities of equal intensity.
b. The amount of water allocated for consumption shall not be less than fifty (50) gallons per person per day per household.
c. If the monthly or bimonthly usage of water as established above is exceeded the customer shall be charged in addition to the regular rate the following charges for excess water use:
1. Any water use over the allocation will be billed at three hundred (300) percent of the current effective water rate as specified b[y] article III, section 46.1-32.
d. The above additional charges for excess water usage shall be applicable to bills for service periods beginning on and after the declaration that a potential shortage of water exists.
(4) Condition 4. When supplies of water are drastically limited, the city manager may implement such additional restrictions as are determined necessary.
(Ord. No. 41,100, § 2, 7-15-03)
Source: City of Norfolk, Virginia, City Code and City Charter (Municode Library, library.municode.com)URL: https://library.municode.com/va/norfolk/codes/code_of_ordinances?nodeId=COCI_CH46.1WASU_ARTVIWACO_S46.1-54CODEPOSHWAFetched: 11/1/2026