Jackson to set irrigation-restriction triggers tied to Zone 3 water demand

Jackson Town Council is scheduled to review Title 13 code changes on March 16 that would create a standing irrigation-restrictions framework—starting with a voluntary phase during irrigation season, and escalating to mandatory phases when the town’s system shows sustained high demand in “Zone 3.” Under the proposal, staff would trigger Phase 2 mandatory restrictions when Zone 3’s maximum daily demand “routinely exceeds a buffer of 1,500 gallons per minute (gpm) for more than one hour daily, for five non-consecutive days within a 7-day period,” or for other capacity-related causes. Phase 3 would kick in if, after Phase 2 is implemented, Zone 3 demand “continuously exceeds a buffer 1,500 gpm over a two-week period,” or for other causes affecting capacity. (The water division manager would make the call under supervision of the public works director.) Town Council Workshop packet

The draft schedule uses address-parity watering windows (even/odd) in Phase 1 and Phase 2, with irrigation limited to overnight hours (6 p.m. to 9 a.m.). Phase 3 shifts to two designated days per week for each parity group—Tuesday/Saturday for even-numbered addresses and Sunday/Wednesday for odd-numbered addresses—again limited to 6 p.m. to 9 a.m. Town Council Workshop packet

In the same workshop item, staff will brief council on a new “master meter” water rate structure designed for developments served by a single municipal meter instead of individual lot meters. The town says the rate would mirror the existing single-family residential base fee and tiered volume pricing, but with tier gallon thresholds scaled by the number of active taps (example shown: tiers multiplied by 10 active taps). Council is being asked whether to direct staff to bring back draft ordinances (effective date proposed June 1, 2026) that bundle the irrigation framework with utility rate/fee amendments and the master-meter structure. Town Council Workshop packet