Drought emergency moves into Stage 4 for Birmingham Water Works
Hoover Mayor Gary Ivey today declared an extreme drought water service emergency for Hoover residents and businesses served by the Birmingham Water Works, meaning even tighter restrictions and higher surcharges for excessive water usage.
Ivey’s declaration comes after the Birmingham Water Works today moved into Stage 4 of its drought management plan due to extreme dry conditions, record high temperatures and a lack of rain in the forecast.
The change means that, starting Dec. 4, residential customers will incur a 400 percent surcharge for using more than 9,000 gallons a month.
The 200 percent surcharge that was scheduled to go into effect on Nov. 19 as a result of the Stage 3 drought declaration on Oct. 19 will be suspended due to the higher surcharges now scheduled to take effect Dec. 4, the Water Works said.
The average Birmingham Water Works customer uses less than 7,500 gallons a months. The surcharge applies only to the amount of water used over 9,000 gallons. Regular rates will apply for the first 9,000 gallons.
Also starting Dec. 4, non-residential customers will incur a 400 percent surcharge for using more than 110 percent of their normal water usage. Again, the surcharge is applied only to the amount of water used that is more than 110 percent of normal usage.
Here is a summary of water restrictions that go into effect with the Stage 4 drought management plan:
- Birmingham Water Works customers are now allowed to water their lawns only on either Monday or Friday, depending on their address. People whose address ends in an even number can water on Mondays, while those whose address ends with an odd number can water only on Fridays. That watering should be done by hand using a hose with a nozzle and can only be done for a total of one hour, but not between 8 a.m. and 8 p.m.
- New lawns and landscaping are exempt from the day-of-the-week restrictions for the first 20 days after installation. However, hand watering shall be limited to the minimum necessary and still cannot be done between 8 a.m. and 8 p.m.
- Golf courses served by the Birmingham Water Works can water only greens and tees, and that watering is restricted to Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays between 1 and 5 a.m. Hand syringing is permitted for no more than five minutes per green on other days when the ambient temperature is 94 degrees or higher.
- Vehicle washing is prohibited except at commercial car washes or businesses that are exempt, such as limousine services. Auto dealers must limit vehicle washing only to purchased vehicles, and body shops and car rental agencies must limit washing to vehicles delivered to customers. Corporations and government agencies with fleet vehicles must limit vehicle washing to the minimum amount necessary, but no more than once per week. Car wash fundraisers are prohibited.
- Athletic fields can be watered on Wednesdays and Saturdays between 4 and 9 a.m. when officials determine that the fields are hazardous to the health and safety of athletes because of hardness.
- Restaurants are asked to serve water only when requested, and hotels and motels are to ask customers to reuse towels and sheets when possible.
- Businesses exempt from day-of-the-week restrictions include sod producers, ornamental growers, fruit and vegetable growers, retail garden centers, commercial nurseries, hydro-seeding and power washing companies, construction sites, producers of food and fiber, commercial car washes and businesses that water-in pesticides and herbicides on turf.
The Hoover Police Department is responsible for enforcing drought restrictions in the city and will first issue warnings to violators, said Lori Schommer, the city’s public information officer. The city has never fined anyone for violating drought restrictions, she said.
Ivey, in a press release, noted that while these restrictions apply only to people served by Birmingham Water Works, the city is asking everyone to conserve water during the drought.
As of Nov. 3, the Birmingham-Shuttlesworth International Airport had not received measurable rainfall for 46 consecutive days, according to the National Weather Service. Rainfall for the Birmingham area year to date is about 9 inches below normal, coming in at 35.85 inches, compared to normal rainfall of 44.83 inches, the weather service said.
The drought is even worse in Tuscaloosa (11.2 inches below normal), Troy (11.25 inches below normal, Calera (13.69 inches below normal) and Anniston (14.89 inches below normal), according to the weather service.
The forecast as of mid-day Friday shows no rain chances until Tuesday of next week, and then the rain chance is only 10 percent Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday. However, there is currently a 60 percent chance of rain expected on Friday, Nov. 11.
The storage supply of the Lake Purdy reservoir, a primary source of water for Birmingham Water Works, is in a precarious position for the remainder of the year, the Water Works said in a press release.
Customers have reduced their demand for water from 115 million gallons per day to 105 million gallons per day since the Oct. 19 Stage 3 declaration, the utility said.
“This was a very significant reduction and shows that the customers of the Birmingham Water Works are supportive of the message to reduce their water usage,” said Darryl Jones, assistant general manager of operations and technical services. “We also believe that we should continue to emphasize to our customers the severity of this weather crisis and engage them to help manage the demands for water until adequate rain returns to this area.”
By moving into Stage 4 of the drought management plan, the Water Works hopes to further reduce systemwide water use by 5 percent from the rate of use in Stage 3.