WATER SHORTAGE MANAGEMENT PLAN
Mesa City Code § 8-10-8
in effect8-10-8: - WATER SHORTAGE MANAGEMENT PLAN
(A) In the event of a reduction or limitation in the availability of water supplies or transmission, treatment, distribution capacity, or other System issue that requires a reduction in demand for water, City water service shall be subject to the restrictions, reductions, prohibitions, limitations and other measures set forth in this Section, regardless of where located. Shortages may be declared in four stages, depending on the severity of localized and/or regional reductions and other limitations in water resource availability or System capacity due to conditions such as but not limited to, reductions in the supply of Central Arizona Project and Salt/Verde water, limitations on the availability of suitable groundwater, and loss or closure of transmission capacity by either the Salt River Project or Central Arizona Water Conservation District. The City may also adopt by resolution supplements which set forth the considerations for declaration of each Stage, and additional plans of action to be taken by the City consistent with this Section.
(B) The City intends to subject similarly situated customers to the restriction and reduction of use of water in a substantially equitable, reasonable and effective manner given the existing circumstances, unless otherwise expressly provided herein. The City may give priority to customers located within the City's municipal boundaries over Outside Users.
(C) Stage One Shortage. The City Manager has the authority to declare a Stage One shortage, when limitations in the available supplies, capacity, or System require a reduction of up to five percent in demand. Upon such a declaration the informational conservation measures set forth in the supplemental Water Shortage Management Plan adopted by resolution shall be implemented, and voluntary water conservation measures shall be encouraged.
(D) Stage Two, Three and Four Shortages. Stages Two, Three and Four shortages will be adopted by resolution of the City Council, or by emergency declaration by the Mayor under A.R.S. Title 26, Chapter 2 Article 1 Section 311, or Mesa City Code Title 1 Chapter 14. If a Stage Two, Three or Four Shortage is adopted or declared, the following cumulative water use restrictions, reductions, prohibitions, limitations, and other measures shall apply to all Customers and Persons for as long as the shortage remains in effect:
1. Stage Two shortage (targeted demand reduction of ten percent) requirements are:
a. All landscape watering limited to between the hours of 9:00 p.m.—5:00 a.m. when water from the System is used as the source.
b. Use of water in decorative outdoor water features and outdoor misting systems is prohibited.
c. Vehicle washing is allowed only at commercial facilities or with pail and hose with a shut off nozzle.
2. Stage Three shortage (targeted demand reduction of fifteen percent) requirements are:
a. All use restrictions, reductions, prohibitions, limitations, and other measures under Stage Two.
b. Landscape watering is further restricted to once per week, on a schedule determined by the Department.
c. No Person shall allow the waste of water for any period of time after such waste of water should have been discovered and corrected.
d. Use of water for construction or other dust control measures prohibited between the hours of 2:00 p.m.—5:00 p.m.
e. Vehicle washing is allowed only at commercial facilities.
f. Restaurants to serve water only upon request of customer.
g. Large commercial and industrial customers, and all customers with a meter sized 4" or larger (or the equivalent in multiple meters), shall develop and implement (if not already in practice) a conservation and compliance plan considering measures such as the incorporation and use of the latest commercially available conservation technology consistent with reasonable economic return, and provide annual reports to the Department on the implementation thereof.
h. Over-Seeding prohibited.
3. Stage Four shortage (targeted demand reduction of twenty percent or more) requirements are:
a. All use restrictions, reductions, prohibitions, limitations, and other measures under Stages Two and Three.
b. Landscape watering is further restricted to every other week, on a schedule determined by the Department.
c. Residential swimming pools must be covered during day when not in use or drained.
d. Sale of sod prohibited within municipal limits.
e. Sale of all construction water by the Department prohibited.
f. Hotel linen washing once per guest stay, towel replacement on request.
g. Dealership vehicle washing one day per week, schedule determined by the City.
h. All residential customer-uses over 7 KGAL/monthly billing cycle subject to 20% billing surcharge.
Water hauling station subject to 20% billing surcharge.
j. All commercial, industrial and multi-unit customer uses over 65 KGAL/monthly billing cycle subject to 25% billing surcharge.
k. All dedicated landscape service subject to a 30% billing surcharge.
Water shall be available to all Customers based on the average of the previous three years water usage. For Customers with less than three years of consumption history, availability will be based on existing City water use averages for the customer class. Customers eligible for a waiver under A.R.S. § 9-463.06 (whether such moratorium has been declared or not) pursuant to an existing written development agreement with the City shall be permitted to develop the project and establish three years of reasonable water usage history consistent with such development agreement. Limitations under this Section may be enforced by the City through the use of water flow restrictors, service shutoff, meter sizing, or other means as determined by the Department.
l. Additional restrictions, reductions, prohibitions, limitations, and other measures as approved by the City Council.
m. Moratorium under A.R.S. § 9-463.06 may be declared.
(E) When the availability of service is so restricted under a Stage Four shortage that reduction on a proportionate basis for customer classes based on prior usage will not maintain the integrity of the System or service, the Department, in coordination with an emergency declaration of the Mayor, shall develop procedures to curtail service to different customer classes, giving service priority based on the public convenience and necessity and where health, safety and welfare would be adversely affected. Curtailment of service shall start with dedicated landscaping uses.
(F) The City will provide six months-notice prior to the declaration of a Stage 3 shortage, and one-year notice prior to the declaration of a Stage 4 shortage, unless made by emergency declaration of the Mayor, in which case as much notice as practicable under the circumstances will be provided. Notice of Stage 3 and 4 shortages shall be provided to all customers in their monthly utility bills and posted on the City's web site. Upon declaration of a Stage 1 or Stage 2 shortage, the City Manager or designee will determine how the public will be notified as detailed in the supplemental Water Shortage Management Plan adopted by Resolution.
(G) Limited exceptions to the water use restrictions, reductions and limitations under this Section may be granted after application in writing provided to the Department and heard by the City Council or City Council Committee designated to hear such requests. Exceptions must be based upon a showing of good cause and special circumstances such as health, safety and welfare needs or other undue hardship.
(Ord. No. 5863, § 1, 7-8-24)
Source: City of Mesa, Arizona, Mesa City Code and City Charter (Municode Library, library.municode.com)URL: https://library.municode.com/az/mesa/codes/code_of_ordinances?nodeId=COOR_TIT8HESAEN_CH10MUWASY_8-10-8WASHMAPLFetched: 11/1/2026