| Conservation Corner |
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| The Conservation Corner |
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Preparing for Emergency Water Supply Shortages: A Model Water Curtailment Plan
As summer approaches, it is a good time to assess whether your community is prepared to deal with a short-term emergency water shortage due to drought, natural disaster or human caused catastrophe. Water suppliers that have a comprehensive water curtailment plan in place are ready to respond to these emergency situations at a moment’s notice. A well prepared curtailment plan helps minimize the impacts of a short-term emergency water shortage by reducing demand and/or finding an alternative supply. Predetermined conservation measures, a backup supply and/or an intertie with an adjacent water supplier are important tools in meeting essential water needs.
In order to be fully prepared, suppliers should have ordinances or rules in place before water supply emergencies occur. Good curtailment plans contain voluntary and mandatory water use restrictions that are implemented at predetermined levels of water shortage. These restrictions become progressively severe as the water shortage becomes increasingly dire. In the early stages of a drought (especially one declared by the Governor), curtailment plans rely on customers taking voluntary water curtailment actions. As the shortage intensifies, curtailment plans require specific curtailment activities and later, under more severe stages of shortage, the implementation measures may prohibit non-essential uses of water.
The Oregon Water Resources Department (OWRD) has developed a model water curtailment plan to assist communities in times of water shortage. The model water curtailment plan, including a model ordinance for water curtailment which allows a community to declare a water shortage emergency, can be found on the Department’s website at: http://oregon.gov/OWRD/docs/model_curtailment_ord.pdf.
Municipal and Quasi-Municipal Permit Extension of Time Applications
Water use permits issued by OWRD specify a date certain by which the permit holder must completely develop water use under the permit (i.e., complete construction of the diversion/distribution system and beneficial use of water to the fullest extent allowed under the permit). If additional time is needed beyond this completion date, as specified in the permit (or a Final Order approving a previous Permit Extension of Time), the permit holder may apply for an extension of time in which to fully develop the water use.
The Department considers each request for extension of time on a case-by-case basis. If there is good cause for not completing development of the water use in a timely manner and the permit holder has shown diligence in trying to meet the requirements of the permit, an extension of time may be granted.
So, why is this important to you? Consider this scenario: The completion date for development of a water use permit expires. However, the permit holder continues to develop water use under the permit beyond the expired completion date without the benefit of an approved Extension of Time. When the time comes for you to submit a Claim of Beneficial Use and request certification of the permit, any work and/or beneficial water use accomplished after the last expired completion date cannot be included in a water right certificate. Obtaining approval of an Extension of Time may make it possible for that portion of the work and beneficial water use to be included in the certificate.
For those water suppliers that need to submit an Application for a Municipal or Quasi-Municipal Permit Extension of Time, OWRD has compiled the top hints and tips to help improve your Extension Application and result in fewer processing delays. These helpful suggestions are presented in a PowerPoint presentation and can be accessed on OWRD’s website at:
http://www.wrd.state.or.us/OWRD/Conservation_Sharehouse.shtml.
For further information about Municipal and Quasi-Municipal Permit Extension of Time Applications, please feel free to contact Ann Reece of the OWRD staff at 503-986-0827 or Ann.L.Reece@wrd.state.or.us.
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