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Alternate Irrigation Day Policy

RATIONALE:

  1. Irrigation systems currently produce daily flow over two times median daily flow and hourly flow six times median hourly flow. Without irrigation, the expected hourly flow would be 2 to 2.5 times median hourly flow.
  2. Irrigation peaks currently coincide with domestic use peaks in the morning, from 5:00 to 8:00 am.
  3. Monday, Wednesday, and Friday mornings experience the highest hourly flows. Many Irrigation Systems currently irrigate every day, and the majority of those that alternate do so on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday.
  4. During these peaks on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday, pressures drop to near 20 psi in several locations and available flow for fire protection is reduced.
  5. Alternate irrigation days are expected to reduce current peak day flows by up to 12% and current peak hour flows by up to 25%. These flow reductions will reduce capital expenditure by delaying and reducing large transmission and pumping improvements.
  6. As aging water infrastructure is replaced more aggressively in coming years, delaying and eliminating transmission line replacements with remaining useful life will minimize capital improvement costs and future rate increases.

Policy:

  1. The attached Alternate Irrigation Days Policy is adopted by the Board for the Lenoir City Utilities Board.

Effective Date: January 1, 2025

I. PURPOSE

This Alternate Irrigation Days Policy sets forth requirements to reduce peak day and peak hour demands related to irrigation and increase minimum pressure and available flow in the water distribution system. The policy will delay and reduce required transmission improvements and therefore minimize capital improvement costs and future rate increases. Lenoir City Utilities Board (LCUB) will require lawn and landscape irrigation on alternating days as outlined below:

 

II. DEFINITIONS

  1. Utility: shall mean the Lenoir City Utilities Board (LCUB), General Manager, or their duly authorized representative.
  2. Irrigation System: A device or combination of devices having a hose, pipe, or other conduit permanently installed in the landscape which transmits water, through which device or combination of devices, water is drawn and applied to residential or commercial lawns, landscapes, or greenspace.
  3. Service Address: The physical location of the Irrigation System as shown on monthly bills (separate from the Billing Address).

III. GENERAL REQUIREMENTS

  1. Odd numbered Service Addresses, where the street number of the Service Address ends in 1,3,5,7, or 9 may irrigate with Irrigation Systems on Wednesday, Friday, and Sunday Mornings only.
  2. Even Numbered Service Addresses, where the street number of the service address ends in 0,2,4,6, or 8 may irrigate with Irrigation Systems on Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday Mornings only.
  3. For Irrigation Systems serving multiple business addresses, or neighborhood common areas, the Service Address for the irrigation meter as shown on the monthly bill shall be used. If the Service Address does not include a number, the service address shall be considered odd.
  4. Morning irrigation shall only occur on designated mornings prior to 5:00 AM or after 7:00 AM.
  5. Evening irrigation can occur any day of the week regardless of address.
  6. Exceptions to the morning policy are allowed for establishing new seed or sod. Irrigation will be allowed every day for 45 days following purchase of seed or sod or payment for installation of seed or sod. Receipt for materials or service shall be produced upon request to avoid enforcement action.
  7. The policy does not apply to hand watering (hose, watering can, etc.) or to washing cars, driveways, houses, etc.
  8. Policy does not apply to plants inside greenhouses, commercial or hobbyists.
  9. Recreational facilities with active playfields and scheduled activities may modify irrigation days to avoid conflicts with scheduled activities.

IV. COMPLIANCE, VIOLATIONS, AND ENFORCEMENT ACTION

  1. LCUB recognizes that it is important to inform its customers and local irrigation companies of both the cost savings benefits and landscape health benefits of Alternate Irrigation Days. LCUB will seek to use every practical means available to acquaint customers with these benefits in an effort to obtain cooperation. LCUB may use one or more of the following methods to increase public awareness regarding Alternate Irrigation Days.
      1. Customer notification letters, brochures, or emails
      2. Brochure for new customers
      3. Presentations to public forums or meetings
      4. Homeowner’s Association meetings
      5. Host landscape and irrigation company meetings
      6. Article on LCUB website and LCUB social media
      7. Posters posted at customer service locations
      8. Local video and print media
  2. Inspection activities by the Utility shall include, but are not limited to, observation during normal duties (i.e. new service inspection, backflow preventer inspection, daily rounds).
  3. The Utility may profile meters, downloading hourly water consumption history.
  4. The Utility may incorporate advanced metering technology in the future for real time analysis and notification
  5. Whenever the Utility determines that an Irrigation System is not operating in accordance with this policy, a notice(s) of violation along with educational information will be issued stating the nature of the violation and timeframe for corrective measures. Table 1 summarizes the timeframe for corrective measures.

*Termination of LCUB water service upon approval of Utility shall not begin until January 1st, 2025.