13.07.010 Water Conservation, Restrictions, and Rationing:
A. Conservation. All odd numbered addresses shall be allowed to irrigate on Wednesday, Friday, and Sunday. All even numbered addresses shall be allowed to irrigate on Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday. All irrigating shall be prohibited between the hours of 10:00 a.m. through 7:00 p.m. All irrigating shall be prohibited on Mondays. New sod, turf, or grass seed may be irrigated irrespective of these provisions provided an unrestricted irrigation allowance is first obtained from the City of Moses Lake Public Works allowing fourteen (14) days of unrestricted water use to irrigate installation of new sod, turf, or grass seed. Only three (3) unrestricted irrigation allowances shall be permitted per address per calendar year, except when a change in property ownership occurs, allowing for potential repermitting during the same year. Additional allowances may be requested and will be issued at the discretion of the Municipal Services Director or their designee. Water conservation measures will be revisited every two (2) years, beginning February 2025, following a review of water resource availability. After a written warning for the first offense, the second offense will incur a C-13 penalty pursuant to Chapter 1.08. A third offense will be subject to a C-7 penalty.
B. Exemptions for City Parks. City parks irrigating on City’s potable water system will be limited to watering three (3) days each week with a specific schedule to be determined by the Parks Superintendent. No zone of a City park irrigation system connected to the City potable water system will be irrigated more than three (3) days each week with the following exceptions:
1. Larson Playfields, Paul Lauzier Park, and Yonezawa Park have high tourism value, and currently an alternative source is not available so in the interim there will be an exemption. This exemption will be revisited annually as resources are identified.
2. City parks without timers or remote watering capabilities will be exempt from the time-of-day watering restrictions. City park staff will maintain a current list of these parks. As park infrastructure is updated and timers are added to these parks, they will be removed from the exemption list.
3. Upon written request of the Director of Parks, Recreation, and Cultural Services, the City Manager may approve a one (1) day exemption to watering restrictions to promote turf recovery following a special event held at the park.
C. Notice to Begin Water Restrictions. The Municipal Services Director will place a notice in the local newspaper and provide a public announcement on the City’s social media as well as to the radio stations that are in the area. The notice will state the requirements for individuals or organizations for irrigating and washing vehicles. Water restrictions will be effective immediately upon publication and broadcast. After a written warning for the first offense, the second offense will incur a C-13 penalty pursuant to Chapter 1.08. A third offense will be subject to a C-7 penalty. Further infractions will be subject to a C-4 penalty.
D. Rationing. Water rationing will be implemented during emergency conditions as determined by the City Manager and Municipal Services Director.
E. Notice to End Water Restrictions and Rationing. The Municipal Services Director will place a notice in the local newspaper and provide a public announcement on the City’s social media as well as to the radio stations that are in the area that states water rationing is no longer required. (Ord. 3029, 6/27/23; Ord. 2980, 7/27/21; Ord. 2904, 6/26/18; Ord. 2737, 11/11/14; Ord. 2207, 5/24/05)