Hoover amends its water emergency restrictions to match those of water suppliers

The Hoover City Council this morning amended its water emergency ordinance to bring water restrictions in line with those of water suppliers such as the Birmingham Water Works.

April Danielson, an attorney for the city of Hoover, said that when the city adopted its water emergency ordinance in 2007, it included water restrictions that were in use by the Birmingham Water Works at that time. However, the Birmingham Water Works has since amended its drought management plan with different restrictions, Danielson said.

The action taken today by the City Council changed Hoover’s water emergency ordinance so that whatever water use restrictions are being used by any water supplier will automatically be the same restrictions in effect in the portion of Hoover served by that supplier. That includes both the Birmingham Water Works and Bessemer Water Service, she said.

However, the Bessemer Water Service, which gets its water from the Warrior River, has not implemented any water restrictions.

The Birmingham Water Works last week moved into Stage 3 of its drought management plan, which includes water use restrictions and surcharges for excessive water use. Here's a summary:

• Customers are not allowed to water lawns and landscaping between 8 a.m. and 8 p.m., nor on Wednesdays, Saturdays and Sundays. Customers are allowed to water established lawns and landscaping one day per week using irrigation systems for no more than a total of one hour.
• Customers without irrigation systems will be allowed to hand water using a hose with a nozzle two days per week.
• New lawns and landscaping are exempt from day-of-the-week watering restrictions for the first 20 days after installation.
• Athletic fields may be watered Wednesdays and Saturdays between 4 a.m. and 9 a.m. when it is determined that the fields are hazardous to the health and safety of children and athletes, by being too hard because of a lack of water.
• Golf courses must restrict watering to tees and greens only on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays between 1 a.m. and 5 a.m.
• Exemptions are made for select commercial outdoor water users.
• Residential customers using more than 8,977 gallons per month will be charged a 200 percent surcharge for any water used above that amount, and business customers will be charged a 200 percent surcharge for any water use more than 110 percent of their average monthly bill.