[HISTORY: Adopted by the City Council of the City of Gardner 9-7-1999 by Ord. No.
1308. Amendments noted where applicable.]
GENERAL REFERENCES
Water — See Ch. 625.
This chapter is adopted by the City under its police powers
to protect public health and welfare and its powers under MGL c. 40,
§ 21 et seq., and implements the City's authority to
regulate water use pursuant to MGL c. 41, § 69B. This chapter
also implements the City's authority under MGL c. 40, § 41A,
conditioned upon a declaration of a water supply emergency issued
by the Department of Environmental Protection.
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 supply conservation or state of water supply emergency
by providing for enforcement of any duly imposed restrictions, requirements,
provisions or conditions imposed by the City or by the Department
of Environmental Protection.
As used in this chapter, the following terms shall have the
meanings indicated:
Any individual, corporation, trust, partnership or association,
or other entity.
A state of water supply conservation declared by the City pursuant to § 636-4 of this chapter.
A state of water supply emergency declared by the Department
of Environmental Protection under MGL c. 21G, §§ 15
to 17.
All public and private users of the City's public water
system, irrespective of any person's responsibility for billing
purposes for water used at any particular facility.
The City through its Director of Public Works may declare a state of water supply conservation upon his or her determination that a shortage of water exists and conservation measures are appropriate to ensure an adequate supply of water to all water consumers. Public notice of a state of water supply conservation shall be given under § 636-6 of this chapter before it may be enforced.
A declaration of a state of water supply conservation shall include one or more of the following restrictions, conditions, or requirements limiting the use of water as necessary to protect the water supply. The applicable restrictions, conditions or requirements shall be included in the public notice required under § 636-6.
A.
Odd/even day outdoor watering. Outdoor watering by water users with
odd-numbered addresses is restricted to odd-numbered days. Outdoor
watering by water users with even-numbered addresses is restricted
to even-numbered days.
B.
Outdoor watering ban. Outdoor watering is prohibited.
C.
Outdoor watering hours. Outdoor watering is permitted only during
daily periods of low demand, to be specified in the declaration of
a state of water supply conservation and public notice thereof.
D.
Filling swimming pools. Filling of swimming pools is prohibited.
E.
Automatic sprinkler use. The use of automatic sprinkler systems is
prohibited.
Notification of any provision, restriction, requirement or condition imposed by the City as part of a state of water supply conservation shall be published in a newspaper of general circulation within the City or by such other means reasonably calculated to reach and inform all users of water of the state of water supply conservation. Any restriction imposed under § 636-5 shall not be effective until such notification is provided. Notification of the state of water supply conservation shall also be simultaneously provided to the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection.
A state of water supply conservation may be terminated by the Director of Public Works upon a determination that the water supply shortage no longer exists. Public notification of the termination of a state of water supply conservation shall be given in the same manner required by § 636-6.
Upon notification to the public that a declaration of a state
of water supply emergency has been issued by the Department of Environmental
Protection, no person shall violate any provision, restriction, requirement,
or condition of any order approved or issued by the Department intended
to bring about an end to the state of emergency.
A.
Any person violating this chapter shall be liable to the City in
the amount of $50 for the first violation and $100 for each subsequent
violation which shall inure to the City for such uses as the Director
of Public Works may direct. Fines shall be recovered by indictment,
or on complaint before the District Court, or by noncriminal disposition
in accordance with MGL c. 40, § 21D. Each day of violation
shall constitute a separate offense.
B.
The Director of Public Works may terminate or restrict the water
service serving the property of any person constantly violating this
chapter until such time as the state of water supply conservation
is terminated.
