Chief Patron: Nutter
Water Conservation Ordinances (language only)

Item 366 #3h

Language
Page 340, after line 26, insert:
"F.  The governing body of each locality in the Commonwealth shall adopt water conservation ordinances that require voluntary and mandatory water conservation.  Such ordinances shall be developed in consultation with the Department of Environmental Quality.  Such ordinances may require voluntary water conservation regardless of the source of water supply and shall require mandatory water conservation regardless of the source of water supply.  Such ordinance's may include appropriate penalties designed to prevent excessive use of water.
1.  Voluntary water conservation requirements shall include restrictions intended to reduce total water use between 5 percent and 10 percent.  Voluntary water conservation shall be required when the Governor or his designee declares a drought warning.
2.  Mandatory water conservation requirements shall include restrictions that result in reductions of total water use by at least 10 percent or by any additional reduction as deemed necessary by the Governor or his designee during a declared drought emergency.  Mandatory water conservation shall be required when the Governor or his designee declares a drought emergency.
3.  Nothing in this paragraph shall limit the ability of a locality to require more stringent water conservation measures or limit its ability to require voluntary or mandatory water conservation requirements prior to the declaration of a drought warning or drought emergency by the Governor or his designee."

Explanation
(This amendment provides for the requirement that all localities develop water conservation ordinances requiring voluntary and mandatory water conservation under drought warnings or drought emergencies, respectively, declared by the Governor or his designee.)