APPENDIX-D

 

The City of Frederick Water Conservation and Drought Response Plan

 

April 4, 2002

Drought Susceptability

The City of Frederick is situated in an area of diverse topography.  Mountains to the north and west, rolling hills in the south and relatively flat landscapes to the east make up these topographies.  Geologically, the City generally sits on karst-type formations.  These are primarily fractured rock aquifers.  The City of Frederick generally receives 40 inches of rain annually.

The City of Frederick obtains its water from three sources, Linganore Creek (located east of the City), the Monocacy River (from a point northeast of the square corner), and the Fishing Creek Reservoir (northwest of the square corner).  Approximately two-thirds of the City’s current average daily consumption comes from Linganore Creek (2/2002.)

The City of Frederick has adopted water restriction codes and policies that promote the conservation of water resources.  (See Section 25-22 of the Frederick City Code).

Responsibilities

Managing drought is a responsibility shared by numerous organizations and agencies at all levels.  In Maryland, the Department of the Environment has primary responsibility for tracking drought conditions, and coordinating all drought responses.  Within The City of Frederick, the Mayor has the primary responsibility to direct the appropriate drought emergency response.

 

Federal

 

Office of the President 

 

National Weather Service

 

U.S. Geological Service

U.S. Department of Agriculture

State

 

Office of the Governor

 

 

Department of Agriculture

 

 

Department of the Environment

Department of General Services

Department of Health and Mental Hygiene

Department of Natural Resources

Maryland Emergency Management Administration

State Police

Local

Local Environmental Health Agencies

Drought Coordinators

County governments appoint drought coordinators to coordinate with MDE regarding drought assessment and response, and to handle applications for exemptions or variances to the Mandatory Drought Restrictions.

During times of drought emergency, drought coordinators may be removed from that designation at any time by the Secretary of the Department of the Environment, and replaced by a Drought Coordinator of the Secretary’s choice who may serve for the duration of the emergency.

Drought Coordinators:

(The current Frederick County Drought Coordinator is Lt. John E. Markey, with the Division of Emergency Services, 340 Montevue Lane, Frederick, MD 21702.  He may be reached at 301-600-1418 or by email at jmarkey@fredco-md.net.)

Metropolitan Washington Council of Governments

COG is a regional organization of 17 Washington area local governments surrounding our nation’s capital, plus area members of the Maryland and Virginia legislatures, the U.S. Senate, and the U.S. House of Representatives.  COG provides a focus for action and develops sound regional responses to environmental and other area issues.

THE CITY OF FREDERICK

 

Mayor

 

·        May declare drought or water emergency through Executive Order and issue drought response measures.

 

Director of The Department of Public Works

 

·        Revise DMRP annually or as needed

·        Inform Mayor when “trigger” points are reached

·        Calculate water restriction levels

 

Municipal Drought Coordinators

 

The following agencies and individuals will serve as municipal drought coordinators, and as such will monitor water supply and conditions in the city service area, respond to customer complaints and problems related to drought conditions, and report any drought-related problems to the Maryland Department of the Environment. 

Municipal drought coordinators will coordinate with the Frederick County drought coordinator when appropriate or when requested.

 

·        Chief Operations Officer of Citizen Services

·        Director of the Department Public Works or his/her designee

·        Director of the Department of Engineering or his/her designee

 

Frederick Police Department/Code Enforcement

 

·        Enforce mandatory drought restrictions

 

INTERSTATE COMMISSIONS

 

The Susquehanna River Basin Commission (SRBC) coordinates water resources efforts of Maryland, New York, Pennsylvania and the federal government and provides the mechanism to guide the conservation, development, and administration of the water resources of the vast river basin.

 

The mission of the Interstate Commission on the Potomac River Basis (ICPRB) is to enhance, protect and conserve the water and associated land resources of the Potomac River basin and its tributaries through regional and interstate cooperation.

·        Coordinate water supply operations during ties of drought.

·        Ensure that minimum environmental flow-by requirements are met during times of drought.

 

 

 

 

DEFINITION

 

The City of Frederick has elected to use the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers’ definition of drought, which states, “droughts are periods of time when natural or managed water systems do not provide enough water to meet established human and environmental uses because of natural shortfalls in precipitation or stream flow”.

 

It is important to keep in mind that, while maintaining water supplies for human use is an important aspect of drought management, drought can also have many other dramatic and detrimental effects on the environment and wildlife.  For instance, water suppliers using surface water sources must remain vigilant to ensure that sufficient flow remains in the rivers to meet other environmental needs.  These indicators are designed to ensure that

 

The City of Frederick considers all potential impacts of extended periods of dry weather when evaluating drought conditions.

 

INDICATORS

 

In order to monitor potential drought conditions in a uniform manner across The City of Frederick area, The City of Frederick will use four indicators of water sufficiency:

• Statewide staged responses to drought, specifically the conditions, recommendations and Executive Orders affecting the Central Region
• Monocacy Stream flow at the Jug Bridge Gauging Station #01643000
• Reservoir storage capacity
• Palmer Drought Index

 

These indicators and other supply issues may trigger the staged reductions in the Response portion of this plan.

(1) Maryland State Drought Response/Monitoring Plan (DRMP)

 

The City of Frederick will monitor the State’s implementation of its Drought Monitoring and Response Plan and abide by the recommendations and mandates that are developed for our region.  The monitoring of these indicators provides The City of Frederick with critical data needed to project drought conditions at the local level. 

 

(2) Stream Flow

 

The Jug Bridge Gauging Station (#01643000) will be monitored to measure the Monocacy River Flow.

 

(3) Reservoir Storage

 

Reservoirs are designed to provide adequate storage when demand exceeds reservoir inflow.  As the stream flows are lowest during the summer period and demand is also greatest, the most critical time begins at the onset of summer.  Adequate storage is presumed enough to last the drought of record 1966 (56 days).  The following two reservoirs will be monitored for the purpose of evaluating drought conditions:

 

1. Fishing Creek Reservoir, with the designed capacity of 50 million gallons, provides a safe yield capacity of 0.9 MGD, and is located northwest of the square corner in The City of Frederick.

 

 

2. Lake Linganore, with the designed capacity of 880 million gallons, provides a safe yield capacity of 6.0 MGD, and is located east of The City of Frederick.

 

(4) The Palmer Drought Severity Index

 

The City of Frederick will also monitor the Palmer Long-Range Drought Severity Index. This index dictates certain responses needed due to a December 14, 2000 agreement between the Lake Linganore Association and The City of Frederick.

 

 

The City of Frederick will implement a staged process for defining drought conditions.  The Superintendent of Water Treatment will monitor the four indicators on a year-round basis and the drought status will be determined on a variable timeframe according to drought stage (see Table Number 1).  The frequency of evaluation will increase if the drought intensifies as indicated below:

 

A) Stage 1 – Monthly

B) Stage 2 – Weekly

C) Stage 3 – Daily

D) Stage 4 – Daily

 

 

Stage 1 – Normal (Green)

When the State DMRP for the Central Region or no more than one of the remaining three are outside of the range indicated:

·        State DMRP for the Central Region is normal

·        Monocacy River stream flow is greater than 100cfs

·        Reservoir storage –

            Fishing Creek - full

            Linganore Lake - full

·        Palmer Index is –1.9 or greater

 

Stage 2 – Watch (Yellow)

When the State DMRP for the Central Region or no more than one of the remaining three are outside of the range indicated:

·        State DMRP for the Central Region is at the Watch Stage

·        Monocacy River stream flow falls between 75cfs and 100 cfs.

·        Reservoir storage is depleted to –

Fishing Creek – 1’ below spillway

Linganore Lake - 1’ below spillway

·        Palmer Index Level is –2 to –2.9

 

Stage 3 – Warning (Orange)

When any of the four indicators are outside of the range:

·        State DMRP for the Central Region is at the Warning Stage

·        Monocacy River stream flow falls between 75cfs and 60 cfs.

·        Reservoir storage is depleted to–

Fishing Creek – 1’-3’ below spillway

Linganore Lake - 1’-3’ below spillway

·        Palmer Index Level is –3 to –3.9

 

Stage 4 – Emergency (Red)

State DMRP for Central Region is at the “emergency” stage or one of the following occurs:

·        State DMRP for the Central Region is at the Emergency Stage

·        Monocacy River stream flow is less than 60cfs.

·        Reservoir storage–

Fishing Creek – more than 3’ below spillway

Linganore Lake - more than 3’ below spillway

·        Palmer Index Level is –4 or less

 

 

 

The City of Frederick will implement a response to drought conditions based on the assessment of the severity of the drought. The following staged drought responses are intended to provide guidance to accomplish water reductions through conservation and other means. The actual response/restrictions will be dictated on a case-by-case basis, depending on the drought assessment and water supply capability. 

 

Stage 1

Normal Conditions (Green)

 

·        Mayor/Public Information Officer implements a public awareness campaign to provide citizens with education on water conservation.

·        The City maintains accurate water production and consumption records.

·        The City determines unaccounted water loss and implements reduction programs.

·        The City develops and implements meter installation, replacement and calibration programs.

·        Homeowners install water conserving fixtures during new construction and building rehabilitation per BOCA Code.

·        Homeowners repair leaks and drips and practice conservation techniques.

·        The City, businesses, and industry work together to  develop and implement water conservation measures.

·        Business and industry develop water emergency plans to reduce daily water use by 10% increments.

Stage 2

Watch (Yellow)

5%-10% Reduction Goal (Daily Average)

 

·        The Mayor declares a municipal “Drought Watch” and advises the public thereof. Frequent drought updates are issued via local media outlets and the City website. 

·        Drought Hotline established.

·        Drought conditions are evaluated weekly.

·        The City activates water conservation for public buildings and operations.

·        The City aggressively pursues leak detection surveys and repair programs.

·        Reduce water usage for main flushing, street flushing, and park irrigation.

·        Business and industries voluntarily activate water emergency plans for 10% reductions.

·        Water use for irrigation purposes should be reduced by 10%.

·        DPW to minimize use of Reservoir source.

·        Superintendent of Water Treatment verifies availability of alternate water source or interconnection from Fort Detrick, Frederick County or other supply.

 

 

Stage 3

Warning (Orange)

10%-15% Reduction Goal (Daily Average)

 

·        Mayor declares and advises the public of a “Drought Warning”.

·        Drought conditions are evaluated on a daily basis.

·        Residences, business and industry voluntarily comply with nonessential water use restrictions. (See Chart 1.)

·        Eliminate bulk water sales.

·        Mayor/Public Information Officer works with local media outlets to issue periodic notification of drought measures and to increase public awareness of water conservation.

·        The City website is updated weekly.

·        The City contacts industrial and business users to voluntarily reduce water usage by 20%.

·        The City actively implements water conservation measures for public buildings and operations.

·        DPW to minimize use of reservoir supply.

·        Exercise use of interconnections as needed to maintain reservoir level.

·        Non-essential flushing of water lines, fire hydrants and distribution equipment is discontinued.

·        Limit use of air conditioning equipment that uses water for cooling.  These businesses/industries must have water conservation plans in place.

Stage 4a

Emergency (Red)

15%-20% Reduction Goal (Daily Average)

 

·        Mayor declares a “Drought Emergency” by executive order pursuant to the Frederick City Code.

·        Mayor notifies MDE or other appropriate government agencies of Drought Emergency Status.

·        Drought conditions evaluated daily.

·        Public Information Officer works with local media outlets to issue daily drought updates to public.

·        Drought Hotline established.

·        Continue Reservoir Source Conservation as needed and implement new temporary sources as available.

·        City website updated as needed.

·        No new water lines installed.

·        Residences and businesses must comply with Chart 1 nonessential water use restrictions.

·        All businesses, commercial and industrial water users must comply with water conservation plans to reduce their daily water use by at least 20%.

·        Business and industry evaluate need to reduce hours of operation.

·        Public/private pools used for recreational purposes shut down.

Stage 4b

Emergency (Red)

20% or Greater Reduction Goal (Daily Average)

 

Mayor mandates additional restrictions in accordance with the Frederick City Code based on input from Director of Public Works.  Director of Public Works follows water restriction levels determination guidelines. The following additional tools can be used for reductions in daily consumption if the severity of the drought or the conditions dictates.

·        Exceptions for non-essential uses (Chart 1) are modified and/or eliminated

·        Implement further incremental reductions in Businesses’ Water Emergency Plans.

·        Reduce pressure in water distribution system.

·        Implement phased outages.

CHART 1