City declares stage three water emergency amid extreme heat

In response to an ongoing extreme heat wave and unprecedented water demand, the City of Guyman has declared a Stage Three water emergency, effective immediately. Mayor Kim Peterson announced the emergency measures during a recent city council meeting, highlighting that customer water usage has exceeded 95% of the city's production capacity on multiple occasions in the past week, leading to critical shortages in water storage.

Under the new regulations, outdoor lawn irrigation will be limited to one day per week—odd-numbered addresses may water on Saturdays, while even-numbered addresses are permitted to irrigate on Sundays. Watering must occur between 7:00 p.m. and 11:00 a.m. Hand watering of gardens and ornamental plants is allowed at any time, but restrictions apply to grass and turf.

The Stage Three emergency was triggered by the city's inability to maintain more than 75% capacity at critical booster pump stations and the high demand for water. The city aims to reduce peak water demand by 50% and overall weekly consumption by 25%. To keep residents informed, the city will hold public meetings and provide weekly updates through local media and social media channels regarding the water supply situation.

Enforcement of these regulations will be strict, with penalties for non-compliance escalating from $20 for the first violation to $500 for subsequent offenses. City officials are urging residents to cooperate as they navigate this challenging situation, emphasizing the importance of conserving water during this critical period.