509 Conservation IrrigationCITY OF YELM
RESOLUTION NUMBER 509
RESTRICTING THE USE OF WATER FOR IRRIGATION PURSUANT TO
SECTION 13.04.97 YELM MUNICIPAL CODE AND ESTABLISHING POLICIES
AND PROCEDURES FOR THE IMPLEMENTATION OF WATER
CONSERVATION MEASURES
WHEREAS, Section 13.04.097 YMC states that the City reserves the right for any
cause to make any order regulating forbidding or restricting the use of water for
irrigation or sprinkling or any other non-essential outside usage; and
WHEREAS, irrigation water through irrigation meters within the City of Yelm used
68.7 acre feet of water in 2009, enough water to provide potable water for 285 homes;
and
WHEREAS, irrigation water through irrigation meters accounted for 8.5% of all
water used in Yelm; and
WHEREAS, irrigation water usage significantly adds to the peak demand needs of
the City of Yelm water system, requiring costly infrastructure improvements including
source capacity, storage, and distribution lines; and
WHEREAS, the City conducted a water audit that shows almost twice as much
water is used to irrigate commercial landscaping and recreational open space as is
required to keep these areas healthy and productive; and
WHEREAS, the City utilized the Washington Irrigation Guide, published by the
National Resource Conservation Service (NRCS) and data from the Environmental
Protection Agency to determine that typical landscaping plants comprised of trees and
shrubs require 11.53 inches of irrigation water per season in the Yelm area to remain
healthy and productive; and
WHEREAS, the City desires to promote water conservation by watering street
trees (trees in the public right of way) only as needed during the irrigation season with
reclaimed water and allowing grass in planter strips within the public right of way to go
dormant; and
WHEREAS, many private storm ponds within residential and commercial
developments have irrigation systems that were installed to establish storm pond
plantings but are not required for long term maintenance of the ponds; and
WHEREAS, residential irrigation is not metered separately through irrigation
meters but is a significant portion of total water usage in Yelm; and
WHEREAS, residential homeowners associations often have covenants and
restrictions that require lots to be maintained in a manner which requires significant
irrigation of lawns; and
WHEREAS, these covenants are not required by any City development regulation
and conflict with water conservation policies; and
WHEREAS, the City Council desires to promote water conservation in order to use
its water supply in the most efficient manner possible, limiting discretionary use;
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED by the City Council of the City of Yelm
that the following water conservation measures be undertaken immediately.
A water budget shall be established for every irrigation meter customer that limits
the annual amount of irrigation water allowed for each irrigation meter. The
water budget shall be based on:
• The area of landscaping on the site, excluding storm ponds and planter
strips within the public street right of way.
• An annual irrigation rate of 11.53 inches of water.
The 2010 water budget for each irrigation meter is attached to this Resolution as
Exhibit A.
2. Written notice of the annual water budget shall be provided to each irrigation
meter customer.
3. Irrigation meters will be read weekly during the irrigation season and notice of
weekly usage will be provided to irrigation utility customers.
4. When the water budget for the year has been used, the irrigation meter will be
locked.
5. The City will irrigate with reclaimed water all planter strips in the public right of
way, as needed.
6. Residential water conservation is encouraged by the City of Yelm and private
covenants requiring residential irrigation of property are suspended.
APPROWED thi 1 day April, 2010.
A
°~1
Ron Hardin ,Mayor
ATTEST:
J ine Schnepf, City erk