Water again will dominate discussion at Hays commission meeting (VIDEO)

Five water-related topics are on the agenda for the Hays City Commission’s regular meeting, scheduled for 6:30 p.m. Thursday at City Hall.

Commissioners, who recently enacted a water warning in response to persistent drought and waning water supplies, will consider water-conserving changes to city regulations regarding landscape irrigation and plumbing.

Adoption of “green plumbing” rules would require all fixtures to be at least 20 percent more water-efficient than federal standards. If adopted, the rule would apply to all new construction and remodels and also require irrigation systems to built with more efficient fixtures.

“Staff believes this is one of the most important, cheapest and easiest changes the city can make for long-term water security for the city of Hays,” according to a memo to commissioners from Nicholas Willis, interim assistant director of utilities, and Jesse Rohr, planning, inspection and enforcement superintendent. “As this is the first known adoption of this (or a similar) code on water use in Kansas, it again sets Hays out as a leader in water management.”

The requirements would add approximately $500 per system for sensors for irrigation systems, with the more-efficient sprayer heads costing between 20 percent and 50 percent more than standard heads. Cost for indoor changes to fixtures would be negligible for property owners and developers, staff said.

The changes were reviewed, amended and recommended by the Hays Building and Trades Board.

Also on the agenda is proposed action to require private wells within the city of Hays to be used in accordance with the city’s drought response plan. Currently, private wells are not included in water warning restrictions, as City Manager Toby Dougherty explains:

Commissioners also will consider irrigation changes for new development that would prohibit the watering of cool-season grasses. According to a memo to commissioners, recently built developments using cool-season grasses use three times the water as those with native grasses.

“This pattern is unsustainable,” the memo said.

Among other changes, the rules would require commercial properties installing new irrigation systems to xeriscape at least 30 percent of the area and require at least a 5-foot buffer between irrigated grasses and impervious surfaces such as sidewalks, streets and driveways.

The changes were revised and recommended by the Hays Area Planning Commission.