HAWARDWEN WATER CONSERVATION
AND DROUGHT CONTIGENCY PLAN

I. Purpose:

The purpose of this plan is to set forth a plan for the City of Hawarden water service area in times of drought or water shortages. The plan will attempt to provide a course of action that will fairly distribute the available water supplies to all users based on an allocation policy. It is understood that before any water uses are restricted, the utilities will attempt to manage the shortage through required conservation.

II. System Capabilities:

  1. Aquifer Capacity: This is maximum quantity is unknown, with the exception of historical performance of City Wells. Well levels, rainfall, temperatures, and Big Sioux River levels are direct indicators of this capacity. Table I shows the well levels that will be used as one method of measurement to determine the appropriate water conservation phase to be in.
  2. Pumping Capacity: This is shown in Table I and Table II. Reductions in this capacity are a result of mechanical failure and the aquifer capacity. Table III shows added wells of capacities of pumping from non-localized standby wells that can be added. These capacities are viewed to be adequate for now and in the future. Enough pumping capacity exists to handle mechanical failure. The only limiting capacity will be aquifer capacity.
  3. Chlorination Capacity: The water chlorination plant processing capability is shown at the bottom of Table II. This is adequate based on the new plant (1991) and it's design capacities.
  4. Distribution Capacity: This is not specified, but is assumed to be adequate provided normal maintenance occurs until such time as a major break occurs.
TABLE I CITY OF HAWARDEN
ACTIVE WELL LEVELS TO TRIGGER
WATER CONSERVATION MEASURES (2)
Well
No.		 June 2002
Pumping Rates
GPM

Static and Pumping
Water Levels, ft. above Pump Bowls
Phase I & II
Normal +/-
Phase III
Water Watch
Phase IV
Water Warning
Phase V (1)
Water Emergency
Static Pump Static Pump Static Pump Static Pump
3 120 15 7+ 10 5 7 3 5 1
4 160 13+ 9+ 10 7 8 5 6 3
6 120 10 7+ 7 5 4 3 2 1
7 200 13+ 6+ 10 4 7 2 5 1
8 160 12+ 8+ 10 6 7 3 5 1
9 150 12+ 8+ 10 6 7 3 5 1
10 220 13+ 7 11 5 8 3 6 1
11 180 14+ 8+ 12 6 9 3 7 1
  1. When the air line reading drops below 1 ft. on a pumping well, the pumping rate should be throttled back so at least 1 ft. is read on the air line gauge.
  2. Wells 1, 2, & 5 are not shown and are on standby. There are not established level for theses well at this time. Due to the limited nature of their permitted and project use there will be little or no expected depletion of the aquifer.
  3. Any 3 wells indicating a lower phase based water well static & pumping water levels will constitute entry into that conservation phase.

TABLE II Water Pumping Supply Capacities
Capacity Measured
Gallons Per Min.
Hours
Active Well
Capacities
June *
Well 1
July *
Wells 1,5
August *
Wells 2, 5
Sept.
Well 2 *
Active Well Average Firm(2) Capacity (1) 1090 GPM 20 hrs 1.30 MGD 1.43 MGD 1.57 MGD 1.64 MGD 1.50 MGD
Active Well Peak Firm(2) Capacity 1310 GPM 20 hrs 1.57 MGD 1.69 MGD 1.83 MGD 1.90 MGD 1.76 MGD
Active Well Max. Average Capacity 1090 GPM 24 hrs 1.57 MGD 1.71 MGD 1.88 MGD 1.97 MGD 1.80 MGD
Active Well Max. Peak Capacity 1310 GPM 24 hrs 1.88 MGD 2.03 MGD 2.20 MGD 2.29 MGD 2.11 MGD
Water Clorination Plant Capacity 1500 GPM 20 hrs
24 hrs 		1.80 MGD
2.16 MGD		 Average
Peak

(1)Average (Computes Capacity without largest Well)
(2)Firm Capacity (Is based on a 20 hours of Well Capacity).

*Note 1: The last 4 columns depict enhanced capacity based on the use of standby wells. These wells may only be used 30 days per year. We would utilize them on Mondays, Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays to boost capacity and relieve pressure off of the localized aquifers around our plant.

*Note 2: Standby wells will be used on a regular basis during the peak month to protect the active/primary well aquifers from depletion. May is not shown due to the fact that during May and June the aquifer levels are at some of their highest due to the elevated Big Sioux River Levels and and due to localized spring rains/snow melt.

TABLE III STANDBY WELL CAPACITY INCREASE PLAN(4 Day Cycles)

STANDBY WELLS

JUNE OPERATION

JULY OPERATION

AUGUST OPERATION

SEPTEMBER OPERATION
Well 1
100 gpm 		************** *************
Well 5
120 gpm 		************* *************
Well 2
160 gpm		 ************* *************
Gained Capacity 100 gpm 220 gpm 280 gpm 160 gpm

III. Water Conservation Action Plan:

The Water Conservation and Drought Contingency Plan listed in the Table IV below shall be implemented as necessary to conserve water and protect our shallow aquifer from prolonged depletion due to drought or to conserve water in the event that a major mechanical plant failure occurs at the plant, major distribution line failure, or water contamination.

TABLE IV HAWARDEN WATER CONSERVATION
AND DROUGHT CONTINGENCY PLAN

CONDITION

APPROXIMATE TRIGGER POINT

CITY RESPONSE OR ACTIVITY
PHASE I - WATER ADVISORY
Approximately three to six months of substantially below normal precipitation and dropping stream flows.
Static and pumping water levels within 2ft of normal. Mild dry winter; below normal rains in spring; drought in summer.
  • Promote water conservation and efficient use of natural resources.
  • Increase frequency of groundwater level monitoring.
  • Monitor weather patterns and predictions.
  • Start public P.R. campaign -newspaper, newsletter, etc.
PHASE II -WATER WATCH
Approximately nine months of substantially below normal precipitation and dropping stream levels
Static and pumping water levels below normal by 2 ft. up to 5 ft.
  • Begin assembling required permits and equipment for pumping from back-up water sources.
  • Begin modified well pumping activities to avoid localized over-pumping. This will include some standby usage.
  • Implement moderate mandatory water reductions as provided for in the Hawarden Municipal Code
PHASE III -WATER WARNING Significant drop in groundwater levels while pumping, or poor recovery of groundwater levels when pumping is stopped.
Static and pumping water levels below normal By 5 ft. up to 7 ft.
  • Implement additional significant mandatory water reductions as provided for in the Hawarden Municipal Code
  • Implement fully permitted standby pumping activities.
  • Request from DNR for additional usage of standby pumps if necessary.
PHASE V -WATER EMERGENCY
Aquifer levels drop to levels where continued significant pumping would damage the water-bearing formation. Water demand approaches or exceeds the ability of the aquifer to deliver water.
Static and pumping water levels below normal By 7 ft. or more.
  • Council declares a “public emergency water shortage”
  • Implement additional severe mandatory water reductions as provided for in the Hawarden Municipal Code
  • Limit water usage to a base allocation with surcharges for all residences and those non-residences that irrigate.

IV. Water Rationing:

If water rationing becomes necessary due to a major water catastrophe the Recommended Priority Allocation System from the 1985 State Water Plan shall be utilized. That system is listed below:

Recommended Priority Allocation System

  1. Self-Supplied Domestic
    Highest priority usually small, generally non-regulated self-supplied withdrawals (usually serving rural areas). They have a limited ability to seek other water resources because of geographic location.
  2. Domestic Fraction of Municipal Systems
    High priority because of human life and welfare. Would include water for human consumption and sanitation and public safety.
  3. Livestock
    Next priority after human use. Recognition of the need to preserve life for humane and economic reasons.
  4. Power
    Water used incidental to the generation of electrical power, either for process water (e.g. boiler makeup wastewater treatment) or for cooling purposes.
  5. Industrial
    Water used by commercial and industrial facilities incidental to providing a product or service.
  6. Non-Traditional Irrigation
    Two classes…water used for non-traditional crops such as fruit, vegetables and other recently introduced crops. These are assigned a higher priority than crops traditionally grown in Iowa.
  7. Irrigation of Traditional Iowa Crops
    Crops such as alfalfa, beans and other traditional crops.
  8. Recreation and Leisure
    Water used but not necessary for the preservation of life, the general welfare or the state’s economic base. Includes such uses as lawn and golf course watering, car washing and other incidental or recreational uses of water.