The Goal of the Board of Public Works is to remain vigilant and proactive in monitoring the water supply of the City of Nebraska City and to issue necessary alerts should they be necessary to maintain the integrity of the City’s Water System to deliver water necessary to maintain the Health and Well Being of the City of Nebraska City.
To accomplish this goal actions and restrictions listed under Level 1, 2 and 3 may be required only in certain sections of the system, especially in the case of pressure problems, however may be required throughout the entire Water System. In these cases, limited to sections of the Water System, a press release will include an outline of the restricted areas. Some examples of problems may be a broken transmission main, water storage reservoir out of service due to maintenance or repair, a storm that takes out the power to the City well field, a flood or storm that disables wells or a broken water main that drains the City supply of water.
Level 1: Voluntary Conservation
Trigger:
- Water consumption reaches 90 percent of capacity or available supply, or
- Operating the water treatment plant 22 hours per day at full capacity to meet demand, or
- Low water pressure jeopardizes firefighting or numerous customer pressure complaints.
Action:
- The General Manager of NCU or an appointed representative of NCU will issue a press release to notify customers and the public that NCU is issuing the alert. The press release will include a list of conservation tips.
- All customers will be asked to voluntarily conserve using as odd/even watering. [If your house number address ends with an odd number (1, 3, 5, 7 or 9) water on the calendar day of month ending in 1, 3, 5, 7or 9. If your house number address ends with an even number (2, 4, 6, 8 or 0) water on the calendar day ending 2,4,6,8 or 0.]
- NCU will limit hydrant flushing with the exception of new construction to clean new water mains, will also comply with the odd/even watering, and will limit sewer main cleaning by use of a jetting machine. 4. Customers will be advised as what to expect if a Level 2 Water Alert is issued.
- The Rural Water District #1 which is supplied by NCU will be asked to advise their customers of this voluntary conservation.
- Other Departments of the City will be notified to cut back on water use for street cleaning and other non- essential uses of water.
Exceptions: Exceptions will be made for newly laid sod and newly seeded lawns or other circumstances deemed appropriate and approved by NCU. Customers of NCU should contact NCU for more information concerning these exceptions.
Level 2: Voluntary No Water Days
Trigger:
- Water consumption reaches near capacity of supply (95%) with the Water Treatment Plant operating near 24 hours/day, or
- Any water storage reservoir cannot be filled from day to day, or
- Low pressure jeopardizes firefighting or numerous customer pressure complaints.
Action:
- The General Manager of NCU or an appointed representative of NCU will issue a press release to notify customers and the public we are issuing the alert. The press release will include a list of conservation tips.
- All customers will be asked to cease all outdoor water use on specified days. NCU will determine the days when the alert is issued.
- NCU will limit fire hydrant flushing and sewer main cleaning by use of a jetting machine.
- Other Departments of the City of Nebraska City will be asked to cease street flushing and other non-essential water use.
- The Rural Water District # 1 which is supplied water by NCU will be asked to advise their customer of the no water day alert requesting no outdoor water use. Exceptions will be made for cattle or livestock use.
- Some factories may be asked to cut back on water use or use conservation efforts.
- Hosing down of driveways will be prohibited unless required by Fire Department Personnel.
- Washing of vehicles, boats and other mobile equipment shall be permitted only on certain days, except for those vehicles needed to be clean for” health and safety” reason, (emergency vehicles, garbage trucks, sludge trucks or a vehicle which transports food products). A decision on continued operation of Commercial Car Washes will be made. Typically commercial washes use less water than hand washing, but may be required to cease operation during a level 3 Alert
- NCU Staff will confer with the City Parks Department concerning watering of the golf courses and potentially request limiting to certain days or time of day for fairway watering on certain days and green watering daily.
Exceptions: Exceptions may include newly seeded lawns or lawns with new sod less then three weeks old or other circumstances NCU deems appropriate. NCU personnel should be contacted for specific instructions or with any questions.
Level 3: Water Alert-Mandatory
Trigger:
- Water consumption exceeds available supply or,
- Useable water storage has been greatly reduced and NCU cannot catch up with demand for water or,
- Wide spread water pressure problems
Action:
- The General Manager of NCU or an appointed representative of NCU will issue a press release to notify the public of the Water Alert and that Level 1 and Level 2 Alerts actions are now mandatory requirements.
- NCU will limit all fire hydrant flushing and jetting of sewer mains to emergency purposes only.
- Customers will be required to adhere to the water restrictions, and may be cited for any not conformance
- All customers will be required to stop hosing down driveways, discontinue to fill swimming pools and any other actions deemed appropriate by NCU
- The Rural Water District #1 which is supplied by NCU will be asked and strongly encouraged to comply with the watering restrictions.
- Some factories may be required to cut back water use and conserve water in any way possible
Exception: Only circumstances deemed appropriate and approved by NCU. All questions concerning various actions should be addressed to NCU personnel
Termination: All Levels will stay in effect until conditions improve or the next level needs to be enacted. Only NCU can rescind the water emergency alerts.