§ 34-129. Administrative relief from imposition of drought surcharge; notification.

(a)

SAWS is hereby authorized to grant administrative relief to residential and non-residential customers in certain circumstances to the imposition of the drought surcharge or a portion thereof by granting a variance from applicable surcharge provisions. A customer who is seeking such relief must submit a request via electronic mail or submit a written request to SAWS based upon the health and safety needs of the customer. Such relief may be based upon but not limited to medical conditions requiring the use of water for special equipment or therapy or other compelling health and or safety reasons. Extenuating circumstances for the maintenance of xeric landscape material may also be considered. SAWS will determine, as part of the variance process, which plant material qualifies as xeric in nature. SAWS shall review the request and determine whether the water consumption level for such customer should be raised and to what extent prior to the imposition of the drought surcharge for that customer. A customer shall be notified in writing within a reasonable time whether such relief is granted. A customer seeking drought surcharge relief shall be afforded all administrative remedies available to all SAWS customers. The rules for administrative relief will be approved by the SAWS president/chief executive officer or his or her designee prior to the implementation of any surcharges and in any case the rules should be developed and approved by January 1, 2008.

(b)

SAWS is hereby directed to notify customers that such variance procedure is available and to further notify customers where drought surcharge relief forms may be obtained.

(Ord. No. 2007-02-08-0149, § 1(Exh. A), 2-8-07)

Editor's note

Ord. No. 2007-02-08-0149, § 1(Exh. A), adopted February 8, 2007, amended § 34-129 in its entirety to read as herein set out. Formerly, § 34-129 pertained to administrative relief from imposition of critical period surcharge; notification, and derived from Ord. No. 84432, §§ 1, 2, adopted July 18, 1996.