[Adopted 8-5-2014 by L.L.
No. 2-2014]
A.
Purpose. The intent of this section is to restrict the wasteful,
inefficient or nonessential use of water, especially during periods
of shortage or reduced access to water from the New York City Catskill
and/or Delaware Aqueduct(s), to provide measures for increasing public
awareness of the need to conserve water not only during such shortages
but at all times, to establish penalties for violations and to provide
for enforcement of water conservation measures in Town of Cornwall
for all water users within any Town water districts for the protection
of the health, safety and welfare of the people of the Town.
B.
Applicability. In the event of a water shortage or reduced access
to water as declared by the Town Supervisor of the Town of Cornwall,
the following regulations shall be in effect.
(1)
Stage I.
(a)
No person or entity using water from any Town water district
shall cause, permit or allow:
[1]
The continuing of any leak or waste from any water pipe, valve,
faucet, conduit, equipment, facility or device connected to the water
system, or which utilizes water on or in any premises owned, leased,
managed, operated or controlled by such person or entity.
[2]
The washing of any vehicle by means of a hose, fire hydrant
or other active source connected to the water system, except a commercial
vehicle washing operation if equipment has been installed and is utilized
so that at least 50% of the water used is recirculated.
[3]
The washing of any street, sidewalk, driveway, outdoor area,
outdoor steps, building exterior or other structure by means of a
hose, fire hydrant or other active source connected to the water system
or which utilizes water.
[4]
The use of nonrecirculated water from any source for any ornamental
purpose, including but not limited to use in fountains, artificial
waterfalls, reflecting pools, lakes and ponds.
[5]
The use of water from the water system to water any lawn, ornamental
shrub, plant or tree, except that:
[a]
Water may be used to water any vegetable garden
from 4:00 a.m. to 5:00 a.m. and from 9:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m.
[b]
Water may be used at any time to irrigate, from
a handheld container, vegetables or fruits grown for human consumption.
[c]
Plant nurseries and other commercial users engaged
in the business of growing, distributing or selling plants, fruits
or vegetables may use such water on their business premises for watering
ornamental shrubs, plants or trees or for watering fruits or vegetables
grown for commercial purposes, provided that each such user reduces
its use of water by 15% or such other percentage as may hereafter
be prescribed for nonresidential water users.
[6]
The opening or use of any fire hydrant, or the water therefrom,
for any purpose other than actual fire protection, except in accordance
with a permit obtained from the Town Supervisor and only for the period
of and the purpose authorized by such permit and in strict adherence
to all terms and conditions set forth therein.
[7]
The use of water from the water system to fill any swimming
pool, but may be used to maintain the level in any swimming pool.
[8]
Automatically serving water to patrons in restaurants.
[9]
Watering of golf courses, except for greens, tees and aprons
or ground under repair.
(b)
In addition to Subsection B(1)(a) above, each nonresidential user of water within any water district in the Town of Cornwall shall prepare and retain a water consumption reduction plan, enabling it to reduce its use of water in stages of 15%, 20% and 25% based upon its water consumption during the calendar year. Such plans shall be designed so as to achieve and maintain the 15% reduction promptly and to achieve the 20% and 25% reduction immediately upon the declaration of a Stage II and Stage III emergency, respectively. Each such user shall promptly implement the first phase of its plan during Stage I and shall reduce its consumption by 15%. On and after 30 days from the effective date of this regulation, each such user shall have its water consumption reduction plan in place and available for review by the Town upon request.
(2)
Stage II. If at any time the Supervisor of the Town of Cornwall determines
that the measures set forth under Stage I of this regulation have
not resulted in a sufficient level of conservation in light of existing
water supply conditions, a Stage II emergency shall be declared. Upon
declaration of a Stage II emergency, in addition to the measures set
forth in Stage I:
(a)
No person or entity shall cause, permit or allow the use of
water from the water system to maintain the level in any swimming
pool, to water any lawn, ornamental shrub or plant, except that water
may be used to irrigate, from a handheld container only, vegetables
or fruits grown for human consumption.
(b)
Each nonresidential user of water from the water system shall
fully implement its Stage II water consumption reduction plan and
shall immediately reduce its use of water by no less than 20%.
(3)
Stage III. If, after the imposition of the measures set forth in
Stage II of this regulation, the Supervisor of the Town of Cornwall
finds that the water consumption must be further reduced, a Stage
III emergency shall be declared. Upon declaration of a Stage III emergency,
in addition to the measures set forth hereinabove:
(a)
All nonresidential users of water from the water system shall
fully implement their Stage III water consumption reduction plan and
shall reduce consumption by no less than 25%.
A.
PERSON
WATER
Definitions. For the purposes of this section, the following terms,
phrases, words and their derivations shall have the meaning herein:
Any person, agent, firm, partnership, association, corporation,
company or organization of any kind.
Water from any water district established in the Town of
Cornwall.
B.
Applicability. The provisions of this section shall apply to all
persons using water from any water district established in the Town
of Cornwall.
C.
Permit required.
(1)
A permit shall be obtained prior to the installation of any new underground
lawn sprinkler system or the alteration or addition to an existing
underground lawn sprinkler system. A permit shall be obtained by filing
an application and plan with the Town Code Enforcement Officer and
paying the appropriate fee as established in the Town of Cornwall
Standard Schedule of Fees. The data submitted with the application
shall include:
(a)
One copy of the site plan showing details of the layout of the
sprinkler system, including all zones, designating individual zones
by number and showing each zone within a dashed-line enclosure.
(b)
A table showing the sprinkler heads and flow capacity for each
zone, and including manufacturer's catalog number for each head
and attaching a copy of the manufacturer's catalog sheet showing
the flow characteristics of each head.
D.
Standards.
(1)
All underground lawn sprinkler systems shall be automatically controlled
systems, equipped with electrically operated time-clock-actuated valves
with a rain and soil moisture sensor designed to shut off the sprinkler
system during periods of inclement weather and when the soil is already
moist.
(2)
The maximum size water supply line to the underground sprinkler system
shall be limited to one inch in diameter.
(3)
The maximum flow rate to any underground sprinkler system shall not
exceed 30 gallons per minute. The maximum number of zones permitted
shall be eight.
(4)
If separately metered, each underground sprinkler system shall be
equipped with a curb stop shut off valve, water meter and double-check
valve backflow preventer. All materials shall meet the standards used
or specified by the Town Code Enforcement Officers. The double-check
valve assembly shall be a unit approved by the New York State Department
of Health.
(5)
The Town assumes no responsibility for water pressure on the premises
when the supply to the sprinkler system is connected to the house
service line. Any form of temporary connection of underground lawn
sprinkler systems to any part of the domestic water supply is prohibited.
Any attempt to bypass the sprinkler system water service line, water
meter or backflow preventer is a violation of New York State Health
Department regulations. Violations will be reported to the County
Health Department and the service line to the lawn sprinkler system
will be disconnected permanently.
E.
Lawn sprinkling.
(1)
During the hours of 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., no person shall water,
hose, sprinkle or otherwise irrigate any outdoor lawn, field, garden,
hedge or shrub in the Town of Cornwall, except in accordance with
the following:
(a)
Persons occupying residences or other establishments with even-numbered
addresses may water, hose, sprinkle or otherwise irrigate other than
during the above hours on even-numbered days of the month.
(b)
Persons occupying residences or other establishments with odd-numbered
addresses may water, hose, sprinkle or otherwise irrigate other than
during the above hours on odd-numbered days of the month.
(c)
Persons occupying residences or other establishments without
numbered addresses may water, hose, sprinkle or otherwise irrigate
other than during the above hours on even-numbered days of the month.
(d)
Nothing in this section shall be construed to limit, restrict
or prohibit irrigation of any sort which is done by means of water
obtained from sources other than the Town of Cornwall's municipal
water supply system.
F.
Sensors required.
(1)
As of June 1, 2013, no person shall use a sprinkler system in the
Town with any type of device which automatically turns the system
on and/or off unless the sprinkler system is controlled by a properly
working rain or soil moisture sensor capable of interrupting the operation
of the sprinkler system when watering, as determined by the sensor,
is not required by virtue of rain or soil moisture, in accordance
with the following criteria:
(a)
The rain sensor shall be of a type capable of detecting a minimum
of 1/8 inch of rainfall and automatically interrupting and preventing
the sprinkler system from operating. It shall further be capable of
allowing the rainfall to evaporate and, when sufficient evaporation
has occurred, to automatically rest and allow continuation of normal
sprinkling in accordance with the programmed schedule.
G.
Use of time clocks; automatic sprinkler system without rain or soil
moisture sensor.
(1)
All automatic underground lawn sprinkler systems equipped with time
clock electrically operated valves shall be of a type approved by
the Town. Such sprinklers shall only be permitted if the sprinkler
system is equipped with a properly working rain or soil moisture sensor,
and used only on days and during the hours established by the Town.
Violations shall be subject to the following warnings or penalties:
(a)
First violation: warning.
(b)
Any additional violation: for any and every additional violation of the provisions of this section, the owner or his general agent or contractor of a building or premises where such violation has been committed or shall exist and the lessee or tenant of premises where such violation has been committed or shall exist and any person who commits, takes part or assists in such violation or maintains any premises upon which such violation shall exist shall, for each and every violation, be subject to the penalty provisions contained in § 150-21 of this chapter.
H.
Hardship exceptions. Upon prior written application, the Town Code
Enforcement Officer is authorized to grant a special exception from
the limitations of this section of the Water Law for water users who
demonstrate a hardship.
I.
Change or limitation of sprinkling hours. Nothing herein contained
is intended to prohibit the Town Supervisor from changing or otherwise
limiting sprinkler hours in case of emergency or to meet the demands
for water for other domestic use.
A.
Requirement and frequency of testing. To ensure reliable meter measurements
and proper meter calibration, each property owner with a water meter
service of one inch and larger must periodically test the meter pursuant
to the testing interval set forth below. All such water meters shall
be tested by an independent testing service, and calibrated or replaced
in order to ensure proper and accurate water meter operation.
|
Meter Size
(inches)
|
Required Testing Interval
| |
|---|---|---|
|
1
|
Every 5 years
| |
|
2
|
Every 4 years
| |
|
3
|
Every 3 years
| |
|
4
|
Every 2 years
| |
|
6 or larger
|
Every year
|
B.
Records of water meter testing. Proof of testing and any corrective action as required in § 150-20A, and a certified report of the results demonstrating the accuracy of the meter, shall be maintained by the property owner on the premises, and such records shall be made available for review and inspection by the Water Department.
Each violation of any of the provisions of this chapter shall
constitute a misdemeanor and shall be punishable by a fine not less
than $250 and not more than $1,000 or by imprisonment not exceeding
one year, or both, for each offense. Each day of a continuous violation
shall be considered a separate offense. A director, officer, agent
or employee of any corporation found guilty of violating any of the
foregoing sections shall be subject to the penalties prescribed herein.
