The City has chosen the following conservation practices for the Education Component of the Long-Term Water Use Efficiency Section of our Water Conservation Plan.

• Water conservation tips added to water bills
• Water wise education program to be starting at the Middle School
• Open water conservation meetings for the public at water treatment plants

• Converting all water meters to high accuracy radio frequency (RF) meters that will be read at least monthly
• Meters for source water will be tested for accuracy at least once every three years.Each meter will be repaired or replaced if testing measurements are not within industry standards (such as AWWA standards)
• Water management review, which will result in a specified change in water management practices or implementation of a leak detection and repair program or plan, whenever the amount of unsold water (amount of water provided free for public service, used for treatment purposes, water loss, etc.) exceeds 20 percent of the total source water for a four-month time period.
• Limiting the size of residential customers to a 1-inch meter
• Not selling bulk water
• Addressing water leaks discovered in the water distribution system promptly
• A water rate structure designed to curb excessive use of water that is evaluated on a regular basis

Goals

The goals of this stage are to heighten awareness of the public on water conditions and to maintain the integrity of the water supply system.

Triggers

This stage is triggered by any one of the following conditions:

1. The City’s storage has fallen below 85 percent capacity and will not recover.
2. Groundwater levels have fallen 5 feet below the normal seasonal level.
3. Demand for one day is in excess of 2.4 million gallons per day.

Education Actions

1. The City will make occasional news releases to the local media describing present conditions and indicating the water supply outlook for the upcoming season.
2. Previous months summaries of precipitation, temperature, water levels and storage will be made public at the beginning of each month.
3. Water-saving tips will be included in billings to water utility customers.

Management Actions

1. The City wells will be cleaned and flushed to maintain them at their most efficient condition.
2. Leaks will be repaired immediately upon detection.
3. The City will monitor its use of water and will curtail activities such as hydrant flushing, street cleaning, and grass watering. 

Regulation Actions

The public will be asked to curtail some outdoor water use and to make efficient use of indoor water, i.e. wash full loads, take short showers, don’t let faucets run, etc.

Goals

The goals of this stage are to reduce peak demands by 20 percent and to reduce overall weekly consumption by 10 percent.

Triggers

This stage is triggered by any one of the following conditions:

1. The City’s storage has fallen below 70 percent capacity and will not recover.
2. Treatment plant operations are at 80 percent capacity or more for three consecutive days.
3. Pumping lowers water level to within 10 feet of the top of the well screens.
4. Groundwater levels have fallen 10 feet below the normal seasonal level.
5. Demand for one day is in excess of 2.6 million gallons per day.

Education Actions

1. The City will make weekly news releases to the local media describing present conditions and indicating the water supply outlook for the upcoming week.
2. Previous week summaries of precipitation, temperature, water levels and storage will be made public each week.
3. Water conservation articles will be provided to the local newspaper.
4. Water-saving tips will be included in billings to water utility customers.

Management Actions

1. The City water supplies will be monitored daily.
2. Leaks will be repaired immediately upon detection.
3. Pumpage at wells will be reduced to decrease drawdown and to maintain water levels over well screens.
4. The City will curtail its water usage, including operation of fountains, watering of City grounds and washing of vehicles.
5. The City will contact Chief Engineer of the Kansas Department of Agriculture, Division of Water Resources for permission to require private well owners to comply with the City’s drought response regulations as authorized under K.S.A. 82a-733(i).

Regulation Actions

These regulation actions apply to City residents (including private domestic well users if authority is delegated by the Chief Engineer under K.S.A. 82a-733(i)).

1. Outdoor water use, including lawn watering and car washing will be restricted to before 10:00 am and after 9:00 pm.
2. Refilling of swimming pools will be allowed one day a week after sunset.
3. Outdoor watering will be restricted to use of a hand-held hose or bucket only.
4. Excess water use charges for usage of water over the amount used in the winter will be considered.
5. Waste of water will be prohibited, such as, water running in the curbs and the watering of sidewalks.

Goals

The goals of this stage are to reduce peak demands by 50 percent and to reduce overall weekly consumption by 25 percent.

Triggers

This stage is triggered by any one of the following conditions:

1. The City’s storage has fallen below 50 percent capacity.
2. Treatment plant operations are at 90 percent capacity or more for three consecutive days.
3. Pumping lowers water level to within 5 feet of the top of the well screens.
4. Groundwater levels have fallen 15 feet below the normal seasonal level.
5. Demand for one day is in excess of 2.6 million gallons per day.
6. Emergency conditions related to repairs or water quality.

Education Actions

1. The City will make daily news releases to the local media describing present conditions and indicating the water supply outlook for the next day.
2. Previous days summaries of precipitation, temperature, water levels and storage will be made public each day.
3. The City will hold public meetings to discuss the emergency, the status of the City water supply and further actions, which need to be taken.

Management Actions

1. The City water supplies will be monitored daily.
2. Leaks will be repaired immediately upon detection.
3. Pumpage at wells will be reduced to decrease drawdown and to maintain water levels over well screens.
4. The City will seek additional emergency supplies from other users, the state or the federal government.

Regulation Actions

These regulation actions apply to City residents (including private domestic well users, if authority is delegated by the Chief Engineer under K.S.A. 82a-733(i)).

1. Outdoor water use will be banned.
2. Waste of water will be prohibited.