Upon the declaration of a water emergency in the Township by the Township Manager in accordance with Section I:
A. All residents/citizens shall be required to observe voluntary indoor conservation measures; and
B. Water uses including but not limited to the following may be subject to restriction by the Township Manager upon the declaration of a water emergency in the Township:
(1) The watering of all plant growth, except commercially grown food crops, sod at commercial sod farms and golf courses and nursery stock at nurseries or retail outlets;
(2) The washing and power washing of vehicles, except for emergency vehicles and by a commercial enterprise whose primary function is car washing, regardless of whether the operation is mobile or stationary or in those instances where a threat to public health may exist;
(3) The washing and power washing of driveways, sidewalks, decks, patios or paved areas;
(4) The serving of water sourced from municipal water supplies, well or groundwater, lakes, streams, or ponds in restaurants, clubs, or eating places unless specifically requested by patrons;
(5) The use of fire hydrants by fire companies for testing fire apparatus and for Fire Department drills except as the Deputy Fire Chief deems necessary in the interest of public safety;
(6) The use of water for all outdoor recreational purposes;
(7) The washing and power washing of outside of dwellings, buildings, or other structures, except windows;
(8) The operation of any ornamental fountain or other structure making a similar use of water except as necessary to preserve or support fish and aquatic life;
(9) Any other water use activity specified by the Township Manager or the Township Council which is reasonable under the circumstances considering the nature and extent of the water emergency.
C. The following restrictions may be imposed on the
water uses stated in §
316-23B:
(1) Outdoor water usage. The watering of any single area shall not exceed 30 minutes per day; and
(2) Any other restriction specified by the Township Manager or the Township Council which is reasonable under the circumstances considering the nature and extent of the water emergency.
D. Any water use restriction imposed pursuant to this section may be amended by the Township Manager to add, alter, or delete any restriction in this section at any time during the water emergency.
E. Any water use restriction imposed pursuant to this section shall apply equally to both users on privately owned wells and users served by a public water system.
F. Nothing in this section shall be read so as to prohibit, restrict, or limit water usage where a bona fide health emergency or a danger to public safety exists.
Whenever the Township Engineer in his or her professional judgment finds that the emergency drought conditions in the Township have abated prior to the expiration of the time period specified in the resolution, he or she shall recommend to the Township Manager that the
water emergency cease. Upon such a recommendation to cease, the Township Manager may declare the
water emergency ended and the
water use restrictions identified in §
316-23 inapplicable.
If, at the expiration of the time period specified in the resolution, the Township Engineer in his or her professional judgment finds that the emergency drought conditions have not abated, he or she shall recommend to the Township Manager that the water emergency remain in effect. Said recommendation shall specify the duration of the extension. Whenever the Township Manager has received such a recommendation, he or she may accept the Township Engineer's recommendation and findings, or any portion thereof, and act to extend the duration of the water emergency.
Reasonable attempts shall be made to notify citizens and residents of the Township of the existence of a water emergency, the restrictions imposed, and the penalties for violations.
The
water use restrictions imposed pursuant to §
316-23 shall be enforced during a
water emergency by the Police Department. Whenever the Police Department shall find a violation of the
water use restrictions, regardless of the source of the
water, the violator shall be given a written warning explaining the penalties for a subsequent offense as provided in §
316-28. The Police Department shall keep such records as may be reasonable and necessary for the purpose of determining the persons and businesses who have been warned upon a first offense. The Police Department is hereby empowered to write summons for the violation of the
water use restrictions imposed pursuant to this article.
After a warning for a first offense in accordance with §
316-27 above, any person or business that thereafter violates the
water use restrictions imposed pursuant to §
316-23 shall be subject to a fine up to $2,000.