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Pertaining to the Saint Paul Regional Water Services drought response plan authorizing the implementation of water use restrictions and related penalties for noncompliance.
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WHEREAS, Minnesota is experiencing extreme drought conditions causing significant decrease in the volume of water flowing through the Mississippi River; and
WHEREAS, the Board of Water Commissioners of the City of Saint Paul (“Board”) derives most of its water supply from the Mississippi River and such intake may contribute to reducing the water levels of the river; and
WHEREAS, as part of the Board’s water appropriation permit from the State of Minnesota, it is required to implement conservation measures during extreme drought conditions; and
WHEREAS, restrictions on water use including, but not limited to, outdoor watering bans may be necessary to assure the safety and wellbeing of the residents within the Board’s water system service area and to maintain compliance with its water appropriations permit; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, that the Board of Water Commissioners of the City of Saint Paul hereby establishes the following restrictions for all its customers within its water system service area as follows:
1. If flow of the Mississippi River at Brooklyn Center, MN reaches the Restrictive Phase as defined in the State of Minnesota’s Statewide Drought Plan, or if voluntary measures are not resulting in adequate progress towards defined goals in the Drought Warning Phase, the Board’s Saint Paul Regional Water Services’ General Manager or their designated representative may instate mandated restrictions.
2. The first mandated restrictions would require that customers with an odd number address draw water for outdoor use when necessary only on odd-numbered calendar days, and those with even numbered addresses may draw water for outdoor use only on even-numbered calendar days.
3. If odd/even mandatory restrictions do not result in adequate demand reduction in water use, outdoor water use will be further restricted to one day per week.
4. In either of the above described mandated schedules, customers may not draw water for outdoor use between the hours of 12:00 pm and 6:00 pm CDT.
5. If flow of the Mississippi River at Brooklyn Center, MN reaches the Emergency Phase as defined in the State of Minnesota’s Statewide Drought Plan, a total ban of outdoor water use will be implemented.
6. Customers will be notified when these restrictions are in effect and of any changes using a variety of outlets to include news releases, social media posts, and city website updates. Penalties for violations may begin 72 hours after restrictions or changes go into effect to allow time for notification.
7. An exception for these restrictions is granted for vegetable gardens, commercial nurseries, community gardens, trees, and the watering of new sod or seed up to one month after installation, but only between the hours of 6:00 pm and 12:00 pm CDT.
8. Other exceptions for uses that promote public safety and public health may be granted by the Board’s Saint Paul Regional Water Services’ General Manager or their designated representative. Exception requests must be submitted to the Saint Paul Regional Water Services’ Customer Service team through email: waterinquiries@ci.stpaul.mn.us or by phone: 651-266-6350.
9. Penalties for non-compliance of any of the above mandated restrictions are:
a. First violation - Educational notice
b. Second violation - Written warning
c. Third violation - $50.00
d. Fourth violation - $100.00
e. Fifth and all additional violations - $150.00 plus water shut off to the property
10. Fines for non-compliance will be applied to the customer’s regular water bill.
and, be it
FURTHER RESOLVED, that the Board of Water Commissioners hereby requests that the honorable councils of each of the municipalities within its water system service area act expeditiously and by whatever lawful means necessary to support the implementation of these restrictions and associated penalties; and, be it
FINALLY RESOLVED, that the Board of Water Commissioners, acting through its Saint Paul Regional Water Services’ General Manager, may terminate these restrictions at any time once the State of Minnesota determines that drought conditions are no longer applicable.