Water Safety

Water Alert Emergency Plan

Adopted by the M.U.D. Board of Directors, March 2, 1994; revised May 1, 2002 

The responsibility for calling for these alerts will be with the President and will be based on consultations with the Senior Vice President of Operations and with the Vice President of Water Operations.  Once the decision has been made, it will be the responsibility of the Senior Vice President, Chief Customer Officer and the Director of Corporate Communication to make the appropriate notification to the news media.

All of the following actions or restrictions may only be required in certain sections of the system, depending on circumstances.  In this case the press releases will include a delineation of the restricted area.

Level 1: Voluntary Alternate Day Watering

Trigger: Water consumption reaches 95 percent (about 300 million gallons per day) of available supply or system capacity, or any of the water storage reservoirs cannot be refilled from day to day, or low pressure jeopardizes fire fighting or causes numerous customer complaints.

Action:

1. The M.U.D. Director of Communications will issue a press release to notify the public we are issuing the alert. The press release will include a basic list of water conservation tips.
2. M.U.D. will limit hydrant flushing and main filling, comply with alternate day water restrictions, and shut down decorative fountains at the Florence Plant and the Headquarters Building.
3. All customers will be asked to voluntarily adhere to alternate day watering. Customers will be asked to water no more often than every other day. Customers may use their own discretion regarding which days they water and which days they refrain from watering.
4. Customers will be told what to expect if a Level 2 Alert is issued.
5. All customers will be asked to voluntarily discontinue hosing down driveways, shut off decorative fountains, discontinue filling swimming pools, and other actions deemed appropriate by M.U.D.
6. The City of Omaha and other municipalities served by M.U.D. will be asked to voluntarily comply with alternate day watering restrictions, curtail sewer flushing, lake filling, fire fighting drills, street washing and other non-essential uses of water.

Enforcement: None

Level 2: Voluntary No Watering Days

Purpose: Specified no-watering days will allow M.U.D. to fill water system reservoirs. Trigger: Water consumption reaches 95 percent of available supply or system capacity, or any of the water storage reservoirs cannot be refilled from day to day, or low pressure jeopardizes fire fighting or causes numerous customer complaints.

Action:

1. The M.U.D. Director of Communications will issue a press release to notify the public that we are issuing the alert. The press release will include a basic list of water conservation tips.
2. M.U.D. will limit hydrant flushing and main filling, comply with no-watering day restrictions, and shut down decorative fountains at the Florence Plant and the Headquarters Building.
3. All customers will be asked to voluntarily discontinue all outdoor uses of water on specified days. The days will be determined by M.U.D. at the time the alert is issued. They will allow one full day after the press release for notification.
4. All customers will be asked to voluntarily discontinue hosing down driveways, shut off decorative fountains, discontinue filling swimming pools, and other actions deemed appropriate by M.U.D.
5. The City of Omaha and other municipalities served by M.U.D. will be asked to voluntarily comply with no-watering day restrictions, curtail sewer flushing, lake filling, fire fighting drills, street washing and other non-essential uses of water.

Enforcement: None

Level 3: Water Alert

Trigger: Water consumption meets or exceeds available supply or system capacity, or useable water storage has been reduced 50 percent, or there are widespread pressure problems.

Action:

1. The M.U.D. Director of Communications will issue a press release to notify the public that the voluntary requirements of the Level 1 or Level 2 water alerts have become mandatory.
2. M.U.D. will stop hydrant flushing and main filling, comply with designated restrictions, including shut down of decorative fountains at the Florence Plant and the Headquarters Building.
3. All customers will be required to adhere to watering restrictions.
4. All customers will be required to discontinue hosing down driveways, shut off decorative fountains, discontinue filling swimming pools, and other actions deemed appropriate by M.U.D.
5. The City of Omaha and other municipalities served by M.U.D. will be required to comply with watering restrictions, stop sewer flushing, lake filling, fire fighting drills, street washing and other non-essential uses of water.

Enforcement: Customers who do not comply with the watering restrictions will be subject to having their water shut off until mandatory restrictions are lifted. The current turn-on fee will be charged to restore service.

Exceptions: Circumstances sometimes dictate that customers must have water on designated non-watering days. Exceptions may be made for new sod less than three weeks old and other circumstances deemed appropriate by M.U.D.

Level 4: Water Emergency

Trigger: Water use exceeds production or distribution capacity due to emergency situations.

Action:

1. The M.U.D. Director of Communications will issue a press release to notify the public a Water Emergency is in effect.
2. All non-sanitary, non-essential use of water must be discontinued.

Enforcement: Customers who do not comply with the watering restrictions will be subject to having their water shut off until the water emergency is lifted. The current turn-on fee will be charged to restore service.

Level 5: Water Emergency - Water Quality

Trigger: Water quality for human consumption cannot be assured due to a contamination or suspected contamination.

Action:

1. The M.U.D. Director of Communications will issue a press release to notify the public that the water cannot be consumed safely unless it is boiled or cannot be consumed safely at all. This will include water used in food preparation.
2. M.U.D., in cooperation with the State of Nebraska Health and Human Services Department, will take action to make the water safe for consumption and conduct tests to assure it is safe.
3. M.U.D. will issue a press release to inform customers the water is now safe for consumption.

Enforcement: None.