Westport County Water District (WCWD) Drought Emergency Plan

Stage 1- Drought Advisory l

Less than 60 % of yearly average rainfall as of May 1st. The yearly average is 43 inches, so stage 1 is implemented at less than 25.8 inches measured at the Water Plant.

1. Voluntary conservation advocated by WCWD

2. Outdoor gardening with conservation in mind

3. Repairing any faulty plumbing that may be wasting water

Stage 2- Drought Advisory ll

Wages Creek flows less than 5 cubic feet per second over minimum

In addition to Stage 1 items above:

1. Only Baseline usage encouraged; overages would be billed at normal rate of $0.006 per gallon; and 

2. No outdoor watering would be permitted between 10AM and 6PM every day.

Stage 3 -Extreme Conservation Measures Mandatory

The WCWD primary source, Wages Creek flows less than 1 cubic foot per second over minimum.

In addition to Stage 2 items above:

1. No overhead watering is permitted, reasonable drip irrigation systems only;

2. WCWD Customers will be permitted to use only 75% of the standard baseline allocations previously established, overages over 75% billed at an additional $0.02 per gallon;

3. No water sales from fire hydrants;

4. WCWD goal of 50% of monthly usage totals compared to previous year totals. WCWD Customer baselines can be adjusted down or up to help meet the WCWD goal of 50% monthly usage total;

5. More frequent meter reading may be needed to identify possible non-compliant customers and to provide timely notice of WCWD concerns; 

6. WCWD customers that are not in compliance of Stage 3 Conservation Measures and are considered excessive water users with Stage 3 may have water flow restriction valves installed on their property access for the remainder of the month(s) or be shut off for the remainder of the month(s) if their non-compliant use of WCWD water is reasonably placing the WCWD water conservation goals and targets in jeopardy to the detriment of the WCWD as a whole. 

Stage 4 -Grave Water Emergency Status

Unable to draw or access water from Wages Creek, the WCWD primary source of water: 

In addition to stage 3 and other items above:

1. No outdoor watering using WCWD water. 

2. Use of WCWD standby well would be considered for all WCWD water needs. Estimated capacity of 50,000 gallons per week for the entire District. Probable health advisory notices would be issued due to compromised water quality.

3. Weekly water meter reading. More frequent if water storage levels are declining.

4. Non-essential commercial customers will be shut off for the rest of the month if they go over 50% of their baseline. These are the commercial vacation rental properties paying commercial rates, the wedding venue property, the hotel, the inn and the deli. This means they have 6000 gallons allotted to them to use, after exceeding the 6,000 gallon allocation that they will be shut off for the rest of the month.

5. Residential customers will have flow restrictors installed for the rest of the month if they go over 50% of their baseline. This means they have 3000 gallons of water allocated to them to use, and after exceeding the 3,000 gallons of residential water use, then flow restrictors will be installed for the rest of the month.

6. Wages Creek Campground will be shut off if they exceed 50% of their 2020 monthly totals.

7. All of the baseline percentages stated above may be decreased to lower percentages as determined by the WCWD if Fire Protection Levels for emergency water volumes are approaching minimums required by law. This means that customers baselines can be lowered, and restrictors or shutoffs initiated to a lower baseline percentage as determined by the WCWD. Such action could also occur if the District is using more than the standby well can produce and the WCWD reasonably determines that this is in the best interest of the District as a whole.

Procedure for Restricting or Shutting off Customers

1. All WCWD Customers will be advised in writing if their water usage is trending towards or going over their percent of their relevant baseline. This notice will be with a note on their door, phone notification (with subsequent writing) or email notification.

2. The Westport County Water District Board of Directors will set up a formally noticed hearing, either in person or via Zoom, with the Customer to discuss the matter and issues that impact the WCWD as a whole, listen to their response and then determine if shutting off or restricting their water usage is warranted. The Customer must first be in good standing with all water invoice payments to the WCWD to have standing.

3. The Board of Directors will then order District Staff to take appropriate action after hearing the evidence as presented at the hearing.

4. These measures are designed to be implemented if the relevant WCWD Customers usage is not in compliance with this Drought Emergency Plan and is determined by the WCWD Board of Directors to be placing the WCWD in jeopardy of placing the WCWD below the State mandated fire protection minimum water reserves for managing possible fires in the 

WCWD.