Background/Summary:
The PW-Utilities Department has prepared a Drought Management Plan to replace the 2003 Drought Contingency Plan. The 2003 plan identified four stages of water restrictions based on indicators related to restrictions in water supply and provided prescriptive reductions from 5% to 15% to offset the loss of water supply. The updated 2017 plan uses the same four stages of water restriction as in the 2003 plan, but the response plans aren’t as focused on specific targets for water reduction, rather they are more focused on a menu of options to reduce community wide water consumption.
The term drought is used to describe “an abnormally dry time period for a specific geographic area,” a common occurrence in a desert environment. Drought is not the same as a water shortage. To date Peoria has never experienced a water shortage, even in the midst of drought. This is largely due to the diversity of the water resource portfolio that reduces the City’s drought susceptibility.
The goal of the 2017 Drought Management Plan is to provide a modern, updated approach to water shortages which could occur. Maximum flexibility in practical options is emphasized.
The Drought Management Plan provides for four stages of alert levels and triggering mechanisms. Water deficiency declarations shall be made by the City Manager or his designee, and continue until the declaration is rescinded by the City Manager, his designee, or terminated by the City Council. The City Manager will convene the Drought Management Team, consisting of representatives from nine City Departments, in order to recommend specific measures to the City Manager in order to curtail water usage. Four stages are defined along with specific triggers related to water supply from Central Arizona Project (CAP) or Salt River Project (SRP):
Stage 1 - Water Watch: A water watch would be declared if the Bureau of Reclamation modeling report issued in August of each year predicts a shortage of CAP deliveries with probability >70% (Tier 1 declared shortage) and/or if SRP reduces the total surface water allocation below two acre-feet per acre. A Stage 1 Water Watch is intended to raise community consciousness and encourage voluntary reduction measures. The City may also consider reducing discretionary water usage to ornamental fountains or other city amenities.
Stage 2 - Water Alert: A water alert would be announced if deliveries to either Pyramid Peak Water Treatment Plant (CAP water) or Greenway Water Treatment Plant (SRP water) were diminished by up to 10% and the probability exists that the City of Peoria PW-UT Department will not be able to meet all of the water demands of its customers. Practical measures to reduce demand will be implemented, such as reduction of irrigation for parks and landscaping, limited washing of fleet vehicles, and limiting watering of residential and non residential grass and landscape areas to three days per week.
Stage 3 - Water Warning: Trigger is reductions in deliveries to either Pyramid Peak Water Treatment Plant (CAP water) or Greenway Water Treatment Plant (SRP water) beyond 10% and the City of Peoria PW-UT Department will not be able to meet all of the water demands of its customers. In addition to seeking new water resource opportunities, the Stage 2 measures would remain in effect or in some cases have greater restrictions such as watering residential and commercial landscape areas only two days a week. Demand reduction measures will only apply to projects that are not necessary to maintain the health and safety of the public.
Stage 4 - Water Emergency: Trigger is a major failure of any supply, treatment or distribution infrastructure, whether temporary or permanent, in the water distribution system of SRP, CAP, or the City of Peoria that cannot be overcome by other resources. Examples of such an issue would be if a delivery canal breaks or a water plant failure occurs that could not be overcome with existing resources.
For each stage the Drought Management Team will evaluate all possibilities from a matrix of options to identify voluntary or mandatory restrictions necessary to cope with escalating and/or extreme situations. Based on the Team’s analyses, the demand reduction goals will be related to the predicted or actual supply reduction.
The Drought Management Plan brings the City into compliance with State and City statutes and ordinances. This Plan conforms to Arizona Revised Statutes § 45-342 and City Code (25-54), and aligns with the City of Peoria Principles of Sound Water Management, Policy 16 Drought Planning (City Council adoption 2007).