Water Warning – Tier I

9/14/20 Update: The Water Warning – Tier I has been rescinded. As the Water Watch is still in effect, please continue to take the following reasonable steps to limit your watering, as the City may be forced to reissue the Warning if usage spikes:

• Even-numbered houses should water on even-numbered days only, and odd-numbered houses on odd-numbered days only.
• Using the house number irrigation schedule, water your lawn between 8:00 p.m. and 8:00 a.m. only.

9/10/20 Update: The City remains in a Water Warning but is targeting early next week to lift it. Usage has been cut in half to less than 400,000 gallons per day due to compliance with the Warning and the recent favorable weather. Please check back early next week for further updates.

9/2/20 Update: The City remains in a Water Warning. Violations will still be enforced. While usage has averaged 600,000 gallons per day since the end of August, the Severe Drought designation and little precipitation forecasted are still concerning. The City will continue to evaluate the situation and provide further updates as needed. We appreciate your patience.

8/28/20 Update: As of this morning, the City has issued three First Violations under the Water Warning, which remains in effect. Second and subsequent violations carry administrative surcharges. For more details on the Water Warning’s use restrictions and the potential costs of the violations, please see below.

8/24/20 Update: The City’s Water Warning remains in effect, especially given this week’s forecast of high temperatures. Please continue to spread the word and comply with the restrictions below. We appreciate your patience, as the new Water Treatment Plant is coming soon.

WATER WARNING – TIER I EFFECTIVE IMMEDIATELY

In the 24-hour period that ended at 7:00 a.m. on August 21, 2020, City water usage spiked to 813,000 gallons, which is tied for the third-highest demand on record for the Adel Municipal Water System.

• This amount represents a system operation capacity of approximately 95.6%.
• Since July 7, when the City issued a Water Watch and encouraged the reduction of water usage, compliance has been minimal.

Therefore, due to this usage, the Severe Drought designation in Adel (along with the Extreme Drought designation in parts of Dallas County), and the current and forecasted weather, the City has issued a WATER WARNING – TIER I effective immediately.

08-21-2020 Water Warning – Tier I Proclamation

• Please Note: This Water Warning is completely different and separate from the recently lifted Boil Advisory, as the Warning is being driven by significant outdoor watering and irrigation.
• Customers of the Xenia Rural Water District are not included in this Water Warning.

Under this Water Warning, no person shall use City water in any manner contrary to the following:

1. Outdoor watering or irrigation of lawns is prohibited.
2. Car washing is prohibited (except at commercial establishments).
3. Filling private pools or ponds is prohibited.
4. Washing streets, parking lots, driveways, sidewalks, or building exteriors is prohibited.
5. Nonessential cleaning of commercial and industrial equipment, machinery, and interior spaces is prohibited.
6. Water shall be served at restaurants only upon request of the customer.
7. Tank load water sales may be curtailed or eliminated.

The following surcharges shall be applied for violations of Water Warning – Tier I use restrictions:

1. First Violation. For a first violation, the City shall issue a written notice of violation to the water user violating the water use restrictions imposed during the Water Warning.
2. Second Violation. For a second violation within a twelve-month period, an administrative surcharge shall be imposed on the customer’s account in an amount of $100.00 plus 200 percent of the fiscal year’s highest month’s water bill.
3. Subsequent Violation: For any subsequent violation within a 12-month period, an administrative surcharge shall be imposed in an amount equal to $500.00 plus 200 percent of the fiscal year’s highest month’s water bill, and, in addition, the utility shall interrupt water service to the customer at the premises at which the violation occurred. Service shall not be restored until the customer has paid the surcharge and the reconnection fee and has provided reasonable assurance that future violations of Water Warning use restrictions will not occur.

Please review the City’s Water Conservation Plan for further details about Water Warnings.