WILLIAMS – As if to become the poster child for global warming, while two-thirds of the nation are under snow and ice northern Arizona has been experiencing summer-like weather. Recently some have complained about allergies as if spring were here.

There are slight chances of rain this week including a 100% chance Friday with slight chances of snow continuing into next week. The moisture moving into the area, however, does not appear likely to stay the Level 4 water restrictions that the City of Williams has already had to impose. This could chance as conditions change.

The Santa Fe reservoir has been virtually ice-free since December which is totally uncharacteristic for this time of the year. In addition the water level has dropped to dangerously low levels.

The notice from the City of Williams web site is as follows:

URGENT NOTICE EFFECTIVE: February 25, 2014 (unless otherwise noted)

Due to the extremely dry winter the City’s water reservoir levels are at critically low levels. To protect the City’s ability to provide water for our most basic needs, according to Title 8 – Article 4.08 of the City Code, the City must enact immediately the following Water Conservation Measure:

Resource Status Level 4: Water Crisis.
(i) The following water uses are restricted or prohibited. No person shall:

(1) Do any of the acts prescribed in previous status level restrictions.
(washing vehicles, washing outdoor areas, refilling swimming pools, etc.)
(2) Use potable or raw water for irrigation.
(3) Use potable or raw water for any purpose other than public health or emergency purposes.
(4) Use potable or raw water in violation of any other restriction deemed necessary by the City Council. (none at this time)
(5) No new building permits will be issued (those currently in the pipeline excluded)
(6) All commercial water hauling is stopped except for residential purposes.

While these are the most severe restrictions possible under City Code, they have been deemed necessary to ensure our ability to continue meeting the basic water needs of our community. Given the severity of the situation, Resource Status Level 4: Water Crisis includes, but is not limited to, the following penalties for violations of restrictions:

1. Excessive Water Consumption Rates: During Resource Status Level 3 and Resource Status Level 4, Single Family Residential rates shall increase to one hundred fifty percent (150%) of the established rate for any water consumption between fifteen thousand (15,000) and twenty thousand (20,000) gallons.

Rate shall increase to two hundred percent (200%) of the established rate for any water consumption greater than twenty thousand (20,000) gallons per billing cycle. Rate increases shall take effect with the current billing cycle, which began immediately following the date of your last meter read (indicated on your enclosed bill).

2. Violation Surcharges and Appeals: When a violation of the Water Restrictions is observed…the following surcharges will apply to all violations…
(3)A surcharge of one hundred dollars ($100.00) shall be assessed to the account of record for a violation of Resource Status Level 4.
(4) Surcharges shall double for every repeat violation.

Restrictions on Business and Industrial Uses include:

All businesses and industries using City water shall be restricted to the use of the amount of water used by the business or industry during the corresponding month of the year preceding the effective date hereof.

The City is working to identify any possible measures to ease the situation on several fronts. These include identifying possible new sources of water that can be used by the City. Thank you for your understanding and cooperation with this very difficult situation.