Village council issues Level 2 'blue flag' water emergency after Peralta Well output drops

The village council voted to issue a Level 2 ("blue flag") emergency proclamation under Ordinance 7-3-10-c on 03/21 after staff reported that the Peralta Well's static water level has dropped to about 218 feet and its output can fall from roughly 225 gallons per minute (GPM) to about 80 GPM with sustained use.

"I do wanna start this off by saying we are not out of water yet," presenter Evan said, stressing that the declaration is intended to be proactive. The staff presentation described camera inspection images showing sediment, erosion marks and fractured bedrock; staff said the well casing lacks a perforated screen and the pump is set near the bottom of the casing, limiting usable water above the pump.

Council debate focused on conservation measures and visitor outreach rather than immediate service curtailment. A council member asked about required signage for short-term rentals; staff committed to producing a sign and sending a bulk email to property managers and including the notice in the Village Voice and on the village electronic sign. The motion to issue the proclamation was made, seconded and adopted by roll-call vote.

The proclamation directs staff to implement Level 2 restrictions intended principally to reduce irrigation and other discretionary water uses while preserving tank levels for household supply and fire protection. Staff said the Peralta Well will be treated as a backup resource while the village pursues longer-term options.

The council did not set a firm timeline for drilling a replacement well at the meeting; staff said they will seek assessments from hydrology and geotechnical consultants to identify viable sites and determine cost and infrastructure needs.