[HISTORY: Adopted by the Township Committee of the Township
of Lacey 7-11-2019 by Ord. No.
2019-10. Amendments noted where applicable.]
Restrictions on outdoor landscape water use apply to all users in the Township of Lacey at all times regardless of source of supply (e.g., public water supplies, well or ground water, lakes, streams, or ponds) unless expressly exempt in § 247-5, Exemptions. Such water use shall conform to the following outdoor landscape water use restrictions:
A.
Lawn watering with a hose or hose-end sprinkler:
(1)
May only be done two days per week. Properties may only water two
days per week. Properties may only water two days a week to coincide
with trash pick up.
(2)
Watering shall only be conducted between the hours of 6:00 a.m. and
9:00 a.m. or between 5:00 p.m. and 8:00 p.m.
(3)
The watering of any single area shall not exceed 30 minutes per day.
(4)
Flowers and shrubs may be watered as needed with a hand-held hose
equipped with an automatic shut-off nozzle.
(5)
No hose or hose-end watering shall be permitted when it is raining.
B.
Irrigating lawns and landscapes with automatic irrigation systems equipped with a conventional irrigation controller (this includes all systems that do not have a "smart" controller as defined in § 247-1C):
(1)
May only be done two days per week: Properties may only irrigate
two days a week to coincide with trash pick up.
(2)
Irrigation shall only be conducted between the hours of 12:00 midnight
and 10:00 a.m.
(3)
Operation of any irrigation zone equipped with spray (mist) heads
shall not exceed 15 minutes per zone. Operation of any irrigation
zone equipped with rotary sprinkler heads shall not exceed 50 minutes
per zone.
C.
Irrigation with systems equipped with a smart controller:
(1)
To qualify for this provision, the smart controller must have met
the minimum requirements of 1A-SWAT protocol testing. Lists of climate-based
and sensor-based controllers that have successfully completed the
protocol testing can be found at: http://www.irrigation.org/Tested
Products.aspx.
(2)
The property owner must register the smart controller with the municipality.
(a)
The municipality will issue a yard placard which the owner must
display signifying that the property is irrigated with a smart controller.
(3)
The smart controller must be programmed by an EPA WaterSense Partner
who holds a New Jersey landscape irrigation contractor certificate
pursuant to N.J.S.A. 45:5AA-3.
(a)
The smart controller must be programmed to irrigate between
the hours of 12:00 midnight and 10:00 a.m.;
(b)
Proper sprinkler head data and accurate soil/plant/irrigation
information must be entered;
(c)
The smart controller programming data shall be posted at the
controller;
(d)
The WaterSense Partner must make a minimum of two site visits
after the initial programming to adjust and fine-tune the irrigation
schedule.
D.
Irrigation systems programmed and monitored by an irrigation manager:
(1)
The property owner must designate a qualified person who will be
the irrigation manager and register that person with the municipality
with defining qualifications.
(a)
The municipality will issue a yard placard which the owner must
display signifying that the property is irrigated by an irrigation
manager.
(2)
The irrigation manager must be an EPA WaterSense Partner or show
evidence of successfully completing one of the approved courses listed
below:
(3)
A property-specific irrigation program shall be developed by the
irrigation manager based on plant variety, soil type, exposure, slope,
precipitation rate, and irrigation efficiency.
(4)
Weekly adjustments shall be made to the irrigation schedule based
on current evapotranspiration (ET) rates or weather conditions.
(5)
If it is found that an irrigation manager does not follow any of
the terms prescribed in this chapter, they may be disqualified from
acting as a property's irrigation manager.
E.
All automatic irrigation systems:
(1)
Shall be equipped with an operational automatic rain sensor device,
which disables the system when a predetermined amount of rainfall
has occurred. Each rain sensor device shall be capable of and programmed
to interrupt the automatic irrigation cycle when 1/4 inch of rain
has fallen.
(2)
Any work performed on a system as a result of any inspection made
by the homeowner or a professional must be in compliance with the
Landscape Irrigation Contractor Certification Act of 1991 (N.J.S.A.
45:5AA-3).
(3)
Flowers and shrubs irrigated with drip or micro irrigation may be
watered as needed.
F.
All new irrigation systems must comply with the following:
(1)
The system must be installed by an EPA WaterSense Partner who holds
a New Jersey landscape irrigation contractor certification pursuant
to N.J.S.A. 45:5AA-3.
(2)
New Jersey irrigation best management design practices are listed
below:
(a)
Designing a system that insures sufficient operation pressure
at the sprinkler head;
(b)
Dividing irrigated areas into hydro-zones of turf and plants
with similar water requirements;
(c)
Creating zoning systems according to exposure;
(d)
Considering the soil type so the sprinkler irrigation precipitation
rate is compatible with the soil infiltration rate or dividing the
zone runtimes into multiple short cycles;
(e)
Providing separate control of sloped areas;
(f)
Preventing sprinkler heads from overthrowing onto driveways,
roads and sidewalks;
(g)
Providing for separate irrigation for parkway strips between
curbs and sidewalks that minimizes overthrow onto walks, pavement
and other impervious surfaces;
(h)
Using pressure regulating technology as necessary to ensure
sprinkler heads operate within the manufacturer's recommended
range. The pressure regulation may be:
(i)
Irrigating all flowers and shrubs with drip and/or micro-irrigation;
(j)
Including check valves in low sprinkler heads to prevent low-point
drainage;
(k)
Having pressure regulating device and wye strainer on each rip/micro
control valve.
(3)
System must have a smart controller capable of estimating or measuring
depletion of available plant soil moisture and operating the irrigation
system only to replenish the water as needed while minimizing excess
water use.
(a)
A smart controller must be an EPA WaterSense labeled smart controller
and listed on their website http://www.epa.gov/watersense/product
search.html and select irrigation controllers from the drop-down menu.
(b)
The smart controller must be programmed by an EPA WaterSense
partner who holds a New Jersey Landscape Irrigation Contractor Certificate
pursuant to N.J.S.A. 45:5AA-3.
[1]
Proper sprinkler head data and accurate soil/plant/irrigation
information must be entered;
[2]
The smart controller programming data shall be posted at the
controller;
[3]
The WaterSense partner must make a minimum of two site visits
after the initial programming to adjust and fine tune the irrigation
schedule.
G.
Upon the declaration of water emergency by the governing body, additional
restrictions may be imposed and shall supersede the restrictions of
this chapter.
H.
State of New Jersey requirements shall supersede those identified
in this section when more stringent than those identified in this
chapter.
A.
Violations include knowingly or recklessly watering or irrigating
or permitting irrigation of lawn or landscape on owned, leased, or
managed property that results in the following:
B.
Violators of these guidelines and requirements are subject to fines
and penalties described in § 247-8, Violations and penalties.
C.
All water uses in the Township of Lacey are responsible for preventing
the above violations.
The water use restrictions and automatic rain sensor requirement imposed pursuant to this chapter shall be enforced by the local authorized official. Whenever the local authorized official shall find a violation of the water use restrictions, regardless of the source of the water (public supply or private source), such authorized official shall issue a written warning and explain the penalties for a second and third offense, as provided in § 247-4. The local authorized official 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 local authorized official is hereby empowered to write summons for the violation of the water use restrictions imposed pursuant to this chapter.
Restrictions in this chapter do not apply to the following:
A.
Outdoor water use from rainwater harvesting, gray water, or reclaimed
water are exempt from the provisions of this chapter. Use of gray
or reclaimed water must have an approved NJPDES permit issued through
the NJDEP.
B.
Outdoor water use for commercial farms producing harbestable crops,
commercial nurseries, sod farms and golf courses are exempt from the
provisions of this chapter.
C.
Outdoor irrigation necessary for one day only where treatment with
an application of chemicals require immediate watering to preserve
an existing landscape or to establish a new landscape.
D.
Outdoor irrigation necessary for the establishment of newly sodded
lawns or landscaping within the first 21 consecutive days of planting.
E.
Visually supervised operation of an irrigation system by a person
in compliance with the New Jersey Landscape Irrigation Contractor
Certification Act of 1991 (N.J.S.A. 45:5AA-1) and at the minimum rate
necessary in order to check system condition and effectiveness.
