HomeMy WebLinkAbout2021-03 Stage 2 Water Shortage Braunwood Neighborhoodc1TY:0(
Nancy Backus,Mayor
WASH IN GTON West MaiStree. AuburaWA 98001409g www:auburnwa:gov 253=931- 000
WATEk.EMERGENCY DECLARATION 2021-03
A DECLARATION OF STAGE 2 WATER
EMERGENCY IN THE HIDDEN
VALLEY/BRAUNWOOD NEIGHBORHOOD:, FOR THE
PROTECTION OF PUBLIC HEALTH, SAFETY AND
WELFARE
WHEREAS, RCW 35.21.210 anthorizes,the City to control atidfregtillate•its
water supply; and
WHEREAS, RCW 38.52 and ACC 13.14 authorize the Mayor to declare
emergencies and to exercise emergency powers related,to the City's water supply
including.the implementation a water conservation measures when necessary to
protect the health, welfare and safety of the City's'Water.Users; and
WHEREAS, ACC 13.14.030 establishes different stages of water emergencies
depending On the immediacy andperVasiVeriess of a water shortage, and authorizes the
Mayor to determine the geographical area(S),of the sCity's water supply that may be
affected by a shortage:and corresponding emergency; and
WHEREAS, by an agreement in 1990, the.City .accepted the water system
serving the Hidden Valley/Braunwood (HVB)neighborhood into its water supply. The
HVB water supply conies from a single well that has legally binding limits on its.water
production amounts to serve a maximum. of 13 residential customers; there. are .12
existing residential customers. Giventhese legal and logistical water supply limitations,
the 1990 agreement included provisions requiring HVB residents to (inter alia)restrict
Declaration 2021,03
August 19,2021
Page 1-of 4
cm or
1IIJ Nancy Backus Mayor
WASHIENG1-DN. 25Wcst Auburn WA 9WQ1 4998 viviiW,40bOtovva40v-.1c..1:53,01:-$POP
Outdoor irrigation to: a, thaiimurn of 7 properties at a tithe, using.:no more,than 10:
gallons Of water per Minute;end
WHEREAS, given observed and 'doentriented water usage patterns; the yearly
average Water use by HVB residents is expected to:be,450'gallons per day. .Since the
spring of 2021, however, the water use by HVB residents: has nearly tripled this
expected aVerage,to 1,025 gallonsper day; arid
WHEREAS, this recent excessive water use by.1.1143 residents greatly exceeds
theexpected water use average and.the water use restrictions in the, 1.990 agreeMent.
and
WHEREAS, on August 9, 2021, 1, Nancy Backus; Mayor of the City of
Auburn, declared a Stage I. Water emergency affecting the. Hidden
Valley/Braunwood (HVB) neighborhood for the reasons set forth in that
declaration and pursuant to.ROW 35.21..210 and ACC 13.14;and
WHEREAS, pursuant to that declaration, the City's Public Works
Department:conducted the following efforts to educate.HV J3 residents, regarding
the benefits and necessity of. water Conservation: 1,): a letter dated August 10,
2021 delivered to each customer comparing their' individual water use to the
expected average and requiring them toadhere: to the irrigation Iimitation
described above; 2) telephone calls and .ernails with individual .custorners: to
discuss their water use;. and 3) a Virtual public ;meeting'On August. 19, 2021 .to
present: information on: 2021 water use; define the maximum monthlywater use
Declaration 2021.-93
August 19-,2021
Page 2.of.4.
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for the rest of the 2021 to stay within the water right, provide :suggestions on •
water conservation measures, and offer individualized consultation with City staff .
to help customers thatiage their water use;.and I
WHEREAS, Public Works took.these measures in u•::effort:to tatigote,the:
HVB. water ,6 toorgeney, and: to avoid the need to-escalate.the water emergency
affecting IVO to further stages identified in ACC, 13,..,14;
WOEItEAS. Public Works has and ,,,OOlithittes•tO monitor the water suppi
and consumption rates, in the: HVB'neighbottood to determine,the status of. its
water emergency. 'The water eohsutoptioh:data available to Public Warksfor the.
HVB neighborhood reveals that the:Water emergency continues to exist, despite • .
some reductions in cOnstimption. Specitically., consumption: data shows that in . •
September each.custom er's water usage-will.heed.totedttce:to half of'the current. •
August usage rgc:•4nci•:in•()ctoherthrotIgh.T_Yeeen).Hher to one-quarter of tho August.
usage:tate:
WHEREAS, in light of the current and :continuing water shortage emergency
affecting the HVB neighborhood,'and,fil.e.insufficiency of the S.t'age,...f.water emergency
measures enaetedpnranant to.thy August 9,.2021, declaration,and ACCI3.1.4,080,A.irt
ending or mitigating the TiV13,water ethergehey,:to prefect-411e public:health,safety:and
welfare of.HVB residents, and pursuant to the above.legal authorities,
NOW THEREFORE I, Nancy BaCkus,,Mayor of the City of Atiburn,,declare'
as follaw:
Declaration 2021-03
August 19;2021
Page 3•of 4
i
At ••,„; 1-,', ;-: . '1,',:,:::aU t Nancy Backus,Mayor
WASH:(gG J L7i ' 2Swg hK*thStreet A.pm:W 9spp,,499t1*k www.aute.trnw-tyou:#253-933O1 OQ
Section 1. To protect the public health;.safety and welfare of HVB residents'
and pursuant :to RCW 3 .2.1.21:0, RCW 38.50 and ACC. 13.1:4, Z declare a. Stage'2'.
water:emergency in the HVB:neighborhood.
Section 2.. Pursuant to. Section 1,,I hereby direct the City of Auburn Public
Works Department to conduct an.intensifiedpublic information campaign directed at
the HVB residents affectedby this. emergency, and`to coordinate this campaign to:
encourage HVB 'residents, to voluntarily conserve their water supply: The Public:
Works campaign.efforts may include those described', ACC 13 1:4.(i40(B), or any
other lawful..efforts reasonably necessary to accomplish:the goal of water conservation
in.HVB.
Section3.. 1 .further determine that pursuant to ACG T3.:14 030(F), the
urgency of the:anticipated water shortage in HVB constitutes exigent circumstances.
that necessitate:immediate implementation and enforcement of the requirements.in a
Stage 2 Serious Water Shortage emergency.
Dated and signed. r
CITY OF AUBURN •
ANCY A `US',Iy1AYOR.
Declaration 202.1-03
August19,2021
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