Florence adopts drought plan as city remains at Level 2 water operations
Florence City Council adopted a revised drought-response framework July 20. The city’s official page lists Level 2 as the current operating level, with designated outdoor-watering days and 20% drought-stage increases on applicable excess water use.
Florence City Council adopted a revised drought-response framework July 20, while the city’s official drought-response page lists Florence at Level 2. Resolution No. 9-2026 passed by a 6-0 vote during the council’s July 20, 2026, meeting.
The plan addresses city utility customers, outside-city users, bulk-water station users, hydrant-meter users and contracted or consecutive water systems. It also establishes stricter measures that would apply only if higher drought levels are formally implemented.
What the council approved
The July 20 meeting minutes say City Manager Lori Cobler described revisions intended to make the plan more inclusive and consistent for bulk-water station users, particularly in the Level 4 provisions. Mayor Wolfe confirmed that the pricing implications also applied to bulk-water station users.
The city’s drought-response webpage lists the current City of Florence operating level as Level 2. The page says the plan was updated at the April 6, 2026, City Council meeting and was revised July 20, 2026. The council record describes the July 20 action as adoption of a drought-response plan, not as a new emergency declaration.
Level 2 rules for Florence households
Under Level 2, lawns and landscapes may be watered only on designated days, before 7 a.m. or after 7 p.m., for up to three cumulative hours per day.
Residents with even-numbered addresses may water on Sunday, Wednesday and Friday. Residents with odd-numbered addresses may water on Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday. Watering is not allowed on Monday.
Residents may not allow water to pool or flow onto pavement. The plan also prohibits washing sidewalks, walkways, patios, driveways, parking areas and other impervious surfaces with a hose, except when necessary to eliminate a threat to public health or safety.
Vehicles, trailers, boats and other equipment may be washed only on approved watering days, using a hand-held hose with a positive shutoff nozzle or a bucket.
How Level 2 can affect bills
For inside-city users, the plan lists a 3,500-gallon minimum monthly allowance and says water used above the applicable minimum allotment is billed at a 20% increase during designated drought stages. The plan’s rate table lists the inside-city minimum allowance rate as $13.94.
The 3,500-gallon allowance does not apply identically to every customer. The plan lists a 5,000-gallon minimum for outside-city users and a separate minimum rate of $23.49. Both inside-city and outside-city excess use is listed as subject to a 20% increase during Level 2.
For consecutive and contractual water systems, the plan uses the number of active service taps or connections to calculate allowable use rather than relying only on a system’s total contractual allocation. That means those systems should not assume that the inside-city allowance applies to every connection or customer.
Bulk-water and hydrant-meter users
Bulk-water customers and commercial bulk-water customers must follow the same Level 2 water-use restrictions as City of Florence customers. For bulk-water station and hydrant-meter users, the standard rate is $1.50 per 100 gallons. During a declared drought stage, water drawn is billed at a 20% increase.
The plan says bulk-water station users will be limited to essential domestic use only. If conditions warrant, the city may completely prohibit customers from using the bulk-water system. Those are conditional provisions, not a statement that all bulk-water users are currently prohibited from using the station.
Higher levels are not current charges
The adopted plan includes more restrictive Level 3 and Level 4 measures, including additional limits and higher surcharges. Those provisions should not be treated as current charges while Florence’s official webpage lists Level 2 as the operating level.
The plan describes Level 2 restrictions as mandatory, but says mandatory restrictions will be imposed only when necessary and upon priority water calls. If the City Council implements the restrictions through the required process, violations may be enforced through municipal-court prosecution or water-service disconnection. The plan and referenced ordinances require prior notice before those sanctions are available.
The plan also identifies education and voluntary conservation as primary goals. For the current operating status and any future changes, Florence residents and other water users should check the city’s drought-response webpage.
Sources
Discover more from Interactive News
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.
