Fairhope is mandating customers of its water utility cease all irrigation as the city faces a severe water shortage.

The city mobilized Phase 3 of its water conservation ordinance today at an emergency city council meeting. Under Phase 3, anyone caught watering their lawn could be required to appear in municipal court and face a fine of up to $500.

“The third phase is when you reach 100% capacity,” Fairhope Mayor Sherry Sullivan told the city council. “And we are teetering right there on the 100% capacity.”

In addition to restricted irrigation, customers also must abide by these rules:

• Washing of private vehicles is prohibited on Friday, Saturday and Sunday.
• Swimming pools can be filled by users with odd-numbered addresses on Monday and Wednesday; even-numbered addresses can fill pools on Tuesday and Thursday.
• Washing of sidewalks, streets, driveways, parking areas, tennis courts, patios or paved areas is prohibited except by the Street Department or Fire Department to alleviate health or fire hazards.
• Taking water from a fire hydrant is prohibited without written permission from the City of Fairhope.

Sullivan cited the recent high temperatures and dry conditions. She said the system’s capacity is 9 million gallons, and usage is close to 8.7-8.9 million gallons.

[Read more: Fast-growing Fairhope invests millions to keep up with water demand]

“If people would just stop irrigating and realize their grass does not have to be watered every day to the extent that your water is running down the gutter,” Sullivan said. “Use what you need. We’re not asking you to do anything that other places don’t ask other folks to. I mean, unfortunately, people just want nice lawns, and I get that. I would love for my grass not to be dying. But again, the irrigation is the biggest culprit right now.”

Sullivan said city leaders have already tried asking residents to conserve water before resorting to the mandate.

“People just aren’t paying attention. We’ve been we’ve used all outlets we can for communication, whether it’s through HOA, social media, we’ve been on the TV,” she said. “I just don’t know what to do other than enact this phase three.”

Since 2010, Fairhope’s population has grown by 55.7%, making it one of the fastest growing cities in the state. Fairhope Water Superintendent Daryl Morefield recently told AL.com that the water infrastructure hasn’t kept up with the growth. But city officials are already working to update the system.

The city passed an ordinance that encourages water customers to decrease their water usage in times of high demand back in 2020, when the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic led to officials encouraging people to stay in their homes, and residential water usage increased across the country. Fairhope’s water usage has also increased as the city’s population grows.

The ordinance has three phases. The first phase is a precautionary measure — no citations are issued to residents who do not follow the city’s guidance — which primarily addresses irrigation. Phases 2 and 3 are mandatory, meaning those who don’t follow the city’s guidelines could be ticketed.

The current threshold for these phases are:

• Phase 1: Water usage in excess of 85% capacity for 7 days or more.
• Phase 2: 90% capacity for 7+ days.
• Phase 3: 100% capacity for 7+ days.

City council approved the city’s transition to Phase 3. Fairhope has been in Phase 1 of the ordinance for most of the summer.

Mayor Sullivan said she doesn’t think the ordinance is as strict as it needs to be. She suggested decreasing the amount of days required to enact the ordinance phases, lowering the percentages and increasing the fines.

“We have to put a little more teeth to the ordinance,” Sullivan said.

The fire department will have no trouble responding to emergencies, Sullivan reassured citizens in the council meeting.