Enforcement of Mandatory Water Use Restrictions
Purpose
The purpose of this policy is to establish more stringent guidelines for the enforcement of mandatory water use restrictions during periods when the Drought Mitigation Plan of Tampa Bay Water has been triggered on due to a 12-month rolling cumulative rainfall (RCRF) deficit of 10 inches or more, until such a time as the drought alert has been triggered off by a 12-month RCRF of five inches or less. It is during these periods that Hillsborough County will be expected to increase water use restrictions enforcement efforts.
Policy
It is the policy of the Board of County Commissioners that during periods of drought alert (or worse), first and subsequent violations of mandatory water use restrictions, as provided for in Hillsborough County Ordinance 03-7, as amended, shall be issued citations without prior warnings mandated. At times when the Drought Mitigation Plan of Tampa Bay Water is not triggered on, first violations may be issued a warning rather than a citation. Subsequent violations will be issued citations. Staff will exercise best judgment in dismissing citations for new and seasonal residents; and when water use restrictions may change if the defendant can provide documentation that they were out of state at the time of the change.
This toggle on/toggle off policy of not issuing warnings on first violations is automatic following a thirty day period during which display ads will be placed in local newspapers to advise the public that warnings will not be issued.
Responsibilities
The Board of County Commissioners has adopted this policy to provide for increased authority in the enforcement of mandatory water use restrictions during periods of drought, or alert thereof, as published in the Tampa Bay Water Drought Mitigation Plan, dated December 2001. The administration of this policy will be through the Water Department staff so designated to enforce these water use restrictions.