Ala. Admin. Code r. 305-7-13-.06

Current through Register Vol. 43, No. 1, October 31, 2024

Section 305-7-13-.06 - Drought Declarations

(1) With input from ADAPT and the MIG and based upon an assessment of conditions, OWR shall issue drought declarations in accordance with the State Drought Plan. Each drought declaration shall consider the intensity and impacts of the drought and projected forecasts for the foreseeable future in order to alert and educate water users, water system managers, and stakeholders on conditions throughout the state or portions of the state. Drought declarations are distinguished from the weekly Drought Monitor in that drought declarations are issued by OWR and include local and regional assessments of conditions, impacts and forward-looking forecasts as opposed to the Drought Monitor which is issued by the Federal Government and only represents a national depiction of drought conditions as of a fixed point in time each week without any consideration of how conditions may change in the future.

(2) When OWR issues a Drought Declaration designating an area of the state as impacted by drought, community public water systems that depend on water from the designated area shall, for the duration of the designation:

(a) Monitor water supply conditions;

(b) Implement any appropriate provisions of their community public water system drought conservation plan, as determined by the specific indicators established in their plan;

(c) Educate customers, employees, and the public on the need to conserve water and how to prepare for potentially more severe drought conditions;

(d) Inspect water delivery system components and ensure that existing equipment is operating as efficiently as possible;

(e) Stay informed on drought and water shortage emergency conditions and participate in state/regional coordination for the management of water resources; and

(f) Evaluate the feasibility of reclaiming, recycling, and/or reusing water to meet water needs.

Ala. Admin. Code r. 305-7-13-.06

Adopted by Alabama Administrative Monthly Volume XXXIV, Issue No. 08, May 31, 2016, eff. 7/1/2016.

Author: Tom Littlepage

Statutory Authority:Code of Ala. 1975, §§ 9-10 C-1 et seq.