Area moves into Stage-3 drought, water conservation measures now mandatory
While some light rain passed through the area over the weekend, the Birmingham Water Works Board has moved into the next category of drought management.
BWWB issued a Stage-3 Drought Warning on Wednesday, making water conservation measures mandatory rather than just a suggestion and reminder.
"Voluntary measures were not enough to deal with this level of drought," Darryl Jones, BWWB assistant general manager of operations and technical services, said in a Wednesday press release.
Jones cited severe lack of rain, along with low levels at Lake Purdy, a major BWWB source. He also said water consumption has not gone down through voluntary measures.
The Stage-3 warning calls for surcharges for customers using too much water or violating watering restrictions. While the agency reported a reduction of water usage over the weekend, a significant uptick in use on Monday and Tuesday led to the move further into the management plan.
Rain is in the forecast for Thursday and Friday due to a cold front moving through the region, but the Birmingham National Weather Service office described it as nothing but a "dust settler."
BWWB customers using above 110 percent of their monthly average will be charged a 200 percent surcharge, and would go into affect on Nov. 19, 30 days after the Stage-3 notice.
The agency also requested that local municipalities invoke their drought ordinances.
Vestavia Hills City Clerk Rebecca Leavings explained Wednesday that Vestavia does have a drought ordinance for emergency situations, but that for enforcement to take place, the mayor and city council would have to officially declare the situation an emergency. She said the ordinance, No. 2318, technically says the city would go into action at a Stage-5 drought, but that it is possible to invoke the code earlier if the council decided too.
Leavings said if the council does decide to enforce the ordinance, there are some exceptions, such as gardening and car wash businesses, athletic fields and other entities where water use is necessary.
The council is scheduled to meet next on Monday, Oct. 24.
The BWWB Drought Management Plan and its suggestions for water conservation can be found online at bwwb.org/droughttips.