Hays and Immediate Area Intensive Groundwater Use Control Area
Initiated by the Chief Engineer on February 26, 1985, at request of the City of Hays and based on information in the office of the Chief Engineer.
Reason for Request
- To address the issue of private domestic water wells and their usage for outside discretionary activities
- Apparent preventable waste of water was occurring, or may occur and other conditions which require regulation in the public interest
Public Hearing: May 30, 1985
Order issued July 3, 1985 - Adobe PDF Available
Conclusions
- Watering of lawns, gardens, trees, shrubs, and other outdoor vegetation was occuring at a time when temperatures were high
- Strong winds and high solar radiation caused excessive evaporation, which was considered a preventable waste of water
- The locations of domestic water wells needed to be determined
- These conditions required regulation of domestic water use to protect public interest
Provisions
- Required registration of domestic wells
- Registered domestic wells are not subject to mandatory provisions of any water conservation plan adopted by the City of Hays
- Chief Engineer can ban, or allow the City of Hays to ban, the use of wells to water lawns, gardens, trees, shrubs, and other outdoor vegetation during the hours of 12:00 noon through 7:00 PM, daily, from June 1 to September 30 inclusive, each year, if information shows that well users are not voluntarily avoiding the watering of the vegetation
- Chief Engineer can amend if deemed in the public interest
Amended August 29, 1985 - Adobe PDF Available
Bans on afternoon watering have been issued in 1988 through 1993, and 1995 through 2006, and 2008 through 2010.
