[HISTORY: Adopted by the Town of Putnam 9-20-2010 STM. Amendments
noted where applicable.]
GENERAL REFERENCES
Water and sewers — See Ch. 312.
The Town of Putnam, under its powers pursuant to state law,
has adopted this chapter to protect public health and welfare. This
chapter implements the Town of Putnam's authority to impose water
use restrictions, either conditioned upon a state of water use restrictions
or a declaration of public drinking water supply emergency issued
by the Department of Public Health pursuant to C.G.S. § 25-32b,
as well as general nonemergency restrictions designed to preserve
and maintain the public water supply.
The purpose of this chapter is to protect, preserve and maintain
the public health, safety and welfare whenever there is in force a
state of water use restriction or state of public drinking water supply
emergency by providing for enforcement of any duly imposed restrictions,
requirements, provisions or conditions imposed by the municipality
or by the State of Connecticut.
As used in this chapter, the following terms shall have the
meanings indicated:
Farming in all its branches as defined in C.G.S. § 1-1(q).
Any town, consolidated town and city, consolidated town and
borough, city, borough, and village.
Any watering of decorative lawns, trees or shrubbery by water
users.
Any individual, partnership, association, firm, limited-liability
company, corporation or other entity, except a municipality, and includes
the federal government, the state or any instrumentality of the state,
and any officer or governing or managing body of any partnership,
association, firm or corporation or any member or manager of a limited-liability
company.
A state of public drinking water supply emergency declared
by the Department of Public Health in consultation with the Department
of Environmental Protection and the Department of Public Utility Control
under C.G.S. § 25-32b.
A state of water use restriction declared by the Town of Putnam pursuant to § 314-4.
The Water Division of the Putnam Water Pollution Control
Authority (WPCA), together with any party obligated to supply water
to the Putnam Water Pollution Control Authority by contract or otherwise.
All persons or municipalities using water from any public
water source irrespective of that person's responsibility for billing
purposes for use of the water.
The Mayor of the Town of Putnam, upon the recommendation of the water company or water companies, as may be appropriate, may declare a state of water use restriction. Such a declaration should be, where appropriate, conditioned on the identification of a water shortage or threatened water shortage by the water company, the local health department, a state agency or the Governor which could also include or be limited to the restrictions listed in § 314-5. Public notice of a state of water use restriction shall be given under § 314-6 of this chapter before it may be enforced. After implementation of any state of water use restrictions, the Department of Public Health and the Department of Environmental Protection should be notified in writing within 14 days of the implementation of restrictions. These restrictions can be phased-in to tailor them according to the severity and nature of the water supply shortage.
A declaration of a state of water use restriction shall include restrictions consistent with the response measures indicated in the individual water supply plans of the water company and the Connecticut Drought Preparedness and Response Plan, as appropriate. These may include one or more of the following restrictions, conditions, or requirements limiting the use of water as necessary to protect the water supply except as provided in § 314-10. The applicable restrictions, conditions or requirements shall be included in the public notice required under § 314-6. Please note, the following restrictions are listed to serve as examples of the types of water use restrictions that may be implemented.
A.
Automatic
sprinkler use. The use of automatic sprinkler systems is prohibited,
except lawn watering is permitted in order to establish and maintain
newly laid sod or newly seeded grass associated with new construction,
and the testing of a customer's newly installed or newly repaired
sprinkler system by a commercial enterprise engaged in the installation
or repair of lawn irrigation systems is permitted.
B.
Car washing.
Car or vehicle washing is prohibited, except for the washing of vehicles
performed by a commercial enterprise engaged in car washing.
C.
Loss of
water from customer's service line. The loss of water through breaks
or leaks within the customer's service line, private distribution
system or plumbing for any substantial period of time within which
such break or leak should reasonably have been discovered and corrected.
It shall be presumed that a period of 72 hours after the customer
discovers such a break or leak or receives notice from the water company
of a break or leak is a reasonable time within which to correct such
break or leak or, as a minimum, to stop the flow of water from such
break or leak.
D.
Off-peak
outdoor watering. Outdoor watering is permitted only during daily
periods of low demand, to be specified in the declaration of a state
of water use restriction and public notice thereof. For example, limit
outdoor watering to between 8:00 p.m. and 8:00 a.m. on not more than
three days per week. Houses with house numbers ending in an odd number
shall water on Monday, Wednesday and Friday; houses with a house number
ending in an even number shall water on Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday.
(In general, restricting outdoor water use to between sunset and early
morning is best for turf needs and coincides with off-peak hours.
Municipalities may choose to restrict water use to one or two days
per week during specified hours.) During a declared water supply emergency,
outdoor watering may be entirely prohibited.
E.
Other outdoor
uses. The use of private wells or other outdoor uses not addressed
in this chapter that are, in the determination of the Director of
Health, wasteful are prohibited.
F.
Outdoor
watering ban. Outdoor watering is prohibited, except the watering
of agricultural products, sod at commercial sod farms, and the watering
of nursery stock at nurseries or retail outlets is permitted.
G.
Outdoor
watering method restriction. Outdoor watering is restricted to bucket,
can or hand-held hose, or soaker hose watering with an automatic shutoff
nozzle.
H.
Swimming
pools, wading pools, hot tubs, spas, and Jacuzzis. Filling and topping
off of swimming pools, wading pools, hot tubs, spas, and Jacuzzis
are prohibited, unless newly constructed or installed swimming pools,
wading pools, hot tubs, spas, and Jacuzzis may be filled once upon
completion of construction or installation.
I.
Use of
water for fire-fighting, health, sanitation, and medical purposes.
The use of water for fire-fighting, health, sanitation, or medical
purposes shall not be restricted. However, domestic water use conservation
practices should be implemented wherever possible.
J.
Washing
impervious surfaces. The washing or cleaning of streets, driveways,
sidewalks or other impervious areas is prohibited.
K.
In any
month that the WPCA is purchasing water from a public water system
pursuant to Connecticut General Statutes Section 22a-348, or otherwise,
the WPCA will enforce water restrictions in the same manner as the
public water system when necessary in accordance with the emergency
contingency provisions of the public water system.
A.
State of
water use restriction. The Putnam Water Pollution Control Authority
shall provide notification of any provision, including any restriction,
requirement or condition imposed by the municipality as part of a
state of water use restriction, which shall be published by the municipality
in a newspaper of general circulation within the municipality, or
by such other means reasonably calculated to reach and inform all
users of water of the state of water use restriction. Notification
of the state of water use restriction shall also be provided to the
Connecticut Department of Public Health, Department of Public Utility
Control, and Department of Environmental Protection at the same time
that notification is given.
B.
State of Public drinking water supply emergency. When a state of public drinking water supply emergency is declared by the Department of Public Health, the water company shall follow those procedures outlined in its approved emergency contingency plan. In the event water use restrictions are necessary, the water company shall contact and consult with the affected municipality(ies), in accordance with the approved emergency contingency plan. The municipality(ies) would then declare a state of water use restriction in accordance with § 314-4 of this chapter. Appropriate notice to the public shall be provided in accordance with this section.
A state of water use restriction may be terminated upon a determination by the Water Pollution Control Authority that the water supply shortage no longer exists. Public notification of the termination of a state of water use restriction shall be given in the same manner as is required for notice of the municipality's declaration of its state of water use restriction pursuant to § 314-6.
Upon notification to the public that a state of public drinking
water supply emergency has been declared by the Department of Public
Health in consultation with the Department of Environmental Protection
and the Department of Public Utility Control, no person shall violate
any provision, restriction, requirement, or condition of any order
approved or issued by the DPH for the purpose of bringing about an
end to the State of public drinking water supply emergency.
The Town of Putnam, through the Director of the Water Pollution
Control Authority, Building Inspector, and the Police Department of
the Putnam Special Services District, or, outside of the Putnam Special
Services District, the Connecticut State Police may enforce all the
provisions of this chapter. Any person violating this chapter shall
be liable to the Town of Putnam in the amount of $100 for the first
violation and $200 for the second violation. In extreme cases, the
Water Pollution Control Authority may curtail water service to a violator.
If water curtailment is found to be necessary, consideration shall
be given to customers that have multiple tenants or medical risk individuals.
Any such water users that consider the restrictions, as imposed,
to adversely affect their livelihood, health or sanitation may make
written application for a waiver. Any such application should be directed
to the attention of the WPCA. The WPCA will verify that the applicant
is a user within the system and then forward the application, within
three days, to the Director of Public Health, who then makes the determination
whether a waiver should be granted. This decision shall be made within
three days of receipt of the application by the Director of Public
Health. For the purposes of this chapter, the Director of Public Health
shall be the Executive Director of the Northeast District Department
of Health or that individual's designee. If the Executive Director
of the Northeast District Department of Health neglects or refuses
to act, then the application for exemption shall be referred to the
WPCA Board for formal action by the Board.
The following water restrictions are applicable from June 30
until November 1, regardless of water restrictions:
A.
Hand watering
or using soaker hoses is permitted at any time, except during a water
restriction or emergency.
B.
No sprinklers
shall be used to water driveways, sidewalks or streets.
C.
Runoff
into a street or other drainage area shall not be allowed.
D.
Sprinklers
shall not be used during periods of precipitation.
E.
Automatic
shutoff nozzles must be used on outside hoses.
A.
It is
the public policy of the Town of Putnam to encourage conservation
through educational materials, and the Water Pollution Control Authority
shall make available through newspaper articles, mail materials and
website information the best methods for water conservation.
B.
The Town
of Putnam and the Water Pollution Control Authority (WPCA) shall use
their best efforts to provide all appropriate conservation materials
to the local media, encourage municipal and WPCA employees to submit
ideas for water conservation relative to their work as well as encourage
the general public to conserve water.
C.
The WPCA
shall make available water savings kits, upon request, to interested
customers and shall work with the Building Department to coordinate
the installation of water-saving fixtures in compliance with The American
Society of Mechanical Engineers or Underwriters Laboratories for new
and renovated construction.
A.
The WPCA,
acting by and through its Director, shall declare a water supply emergency
exists if during a 24 hour period the water demand exceeds the legally
authorized water withdrawal supply. This shall be referred to as a
Phase-I water supply emergency.
B.
During
a Phase I water supply emergency:
(1)
All
unnecessary water usage shall be banned.
(2)
The
WPCA Director shall contact all state and local agencies concerning
initiation of a Phase I water emergency.
(3)
There
shall be a fifteen-percent reduction in usage for the average water
usage from the month in question averaged over the previous five years.
(4)
The
Director of the WPCA shall confer with the Connecticut Department
of Health in accordance with the Connecticut General Statutes Section
25-32b as to whether or not a public drinking water supply emergency
exists.
(5)
The
WPCA, acting by and through its Director, shall prepare weekly water
supply status reports for in-house evaluation and distribution to
all state and local officials.
(6)
The
Director shall notify the media, set up a hot line and post notices
in prominent locations in an effort to notify all customers.
(7)
The
Director shall notify the Putnam Police Department and Troop D, the
State of Connecticut Police in Danielson, Connecticut, of the existence
of the water supply use restrictions.
Should the water supply emergency continue for a period of seven
days, a Phase II water supply emergency shall be declared and the
following additional restrictions shall be implemented:
A.
The targeted
reduction for the average water usage from the month in question averaged
over the previous five years.
B.
The water
supply status report for in-house evaluation and distribution to all
state and local officials shall be prepared twice weekly.
C.
Notification
to all customers through a press release and other appropriate media
and website information providers shall be implemented.
D.
To the
extent practical, all large commercial and industrial account holders
shall be contacted personally or by e-mail.
E.
A drought
hazard rationing plan shall be prepared in concert with all relevant
state and local agencies and the Connecticut Water Company.
F.
An investigation
of alternate means of obtaining additional emergency water supplies
shall be implemented as well.
Should the WPCA water supply emergency continue for an interrupted
period of 14 days, a Phase III water supply emergency shall be declared.
Under those circumstances, the following steps shall be taken:
A.
The WPCA
Director shall, in conjunction with all state and local officials,
implement a water rationing plan, if necessary. The plan shall provide
for the bare essentials for life sustenance as long as possible, as
well as consideration of medical needs and fire protection. A predetermined
amount of water shall be held in reserve for fire protection.
B.
The Putnam
Special Services District and state and local police shall be notified
of the existence of a Phase III water emergency and their cooperation
shall be solicited in the strict enforcement of the mandatory water
rationing.
