Goodland reviews water-conservation code as early drought pushes usage above 1 million gallons per day

City staff told the Goodland City Commission that the community is already experiencing low water availability and presented code options — water watch, water warning and water emergency — to respond to drought conditions.

Staff reviewed section 17506 of the city code, which allows voluntary and mandatory conservation measures such as restricting outdoor watering, limiting filling of pools and suspending certain new connections. Staff also outlined emergency-rate structures (excess-use surcharges across graduated tiers) and said a cost‑benefit approach to enforcement and pricing tends to change user behavior more effectively than rules alone.

Staff provided system-use figures to the commission: wintertime daily use is about 400,000 gallons; current usage is “over a million gallons per day”; and during extreme heat the system can reach 2–3 million gallons per day. Staff warned that if the pattern continues, the commission may need to move beyond public education into mandatory measures or emergency rates.

Commissioners favored beginning with a public-education campaign using multiple platforms (Facebook, the utility billing portal and daily usage graphics) to make residents aware of current daily consumption. Staff also suggested recurring agenda updates so the commission can monitor trends and consider rate or restriction changes if conditions deteriorate.

No mandatory restrictions or rate changes were enacted at the meeting; staff was asked to prepare communications and options for future meetings.