[Adopted 9-11-2006 by Ord. No. 06-022]
The purpose of this article is to limit the watering or irrigation of property on a temporary basis until the need for such limit or restriction is no longer necessary.
[Amended 6-14-2010 by Ord. No. 10-012; 4-14-2014 by Ord. No. 14-007; 11-28-2016 by Ord. No. 16-037; 8-8-2022 by Ord. No. 22-23]
The Mayor is hereby granted the authority to declare a water emergency within the municipality after consulting with the Township Department of Department of Utilities.
Water limitation or restriction shall be in effect when it is necessary to preserve the ability of the Township to deliver the proper amount of sanitary and safe water for each user within the Township water service area and for fire protection service within the Township.
Those sites having an odd-number street address as determined by the United States Postal Service may water or irrigate property only on odd calendar days. Those sites having an even-number street address as determined by the United States Postal Service may water or irrigate property only on even calendar days.
No watering shall be permitted between the hours of 10:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m.
As used in this article, the following terms shall have the meanings indicated:
WATERING OR IRRIGATING PROPERTY
The sprinkling, watering, or irrigation of shrubbery, trees, lawns, grass, ground covers, plants, blinds, gardens, vegetables, flowers, or any vegetation.
These restrictions shall apply to all residential and commercial properties except for golf courses, public parks and recreational areas, hanging plants in any location, any newly seeded or sod lawns area for up to 30 days after initial seeding or sodding, nurseries and any commercial site where watering is an entangled component for goods provided by such commercial business.
[Amended 6-14-2010 by Ord. No. 10-012]
Age-restricted communities with lawn irrigation sprinkler systems that are owned and operated by the community may obtain approval from the Mayor or the Mayor's designated representative of an alternative watering schedule when the location and the configuration of the sprinkler system make watering on an odd- and even-calendar-day-basis impractical, provided the alternative watering schedule limits irrigation of a lawn area to every other day for not more than 30 minutes.
These restrictions do not apply to federal, state and county public utilities and their agencies.
The provisions of this article shall apply to sites served by public water utilities and privately owned wells.
[Amended 4-14-2014 by Ord. No. 14-007; 11-28-2016 by Ord. No. 16-037; 8-8-2022 by Ord. No. 22-23; 2-13-2023 by Ord. No. 23-02]
This article may be enforced by any authorized employee of the Department of Public Works, Division of Utilities, the Code Enforcement Officer, any member of the Police Department who shall observe any person using or withdrawing water in violation of this article.
Provisions of this article shall be in effect upon the declaration of the emergency by the Mayor and will continue until the Mayor has removed the emergency.
Notification of the emergency will be done through public service announcements in the news media and public advertisements announcing the water emergency and reciting the provisions of this article as to odd/even watering or irrigation dates.
Anyone found guilty of violating this article shall be fined for a first offense not more than $500; for a second or subsequent offense, not more than $1,000 and/or 30 days' community service.