City of Vineland, NJ Article XX Water Conservation

[Added 9-23-2008 by Ord. No. 2008-63; amended 2-24-2017 by Ord. No. 2017-1]

§ 687-149 Water use restrictions.

Restrictions on outdoor water use apply to all users in the City of Vineland 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 § 687-154, Exemptions. Such outdoor water use shall conform to the following water use restrictions:

A. Car washing, pressure washing and other non-landscape outdoor water uses:

(1) Properties may only use water for this purpose two days per week.

(a) Properties with even number addresses may only use water on Wednesdays and Saturdays.

(b) Properties with odd number addresses may only use water on Thursdays and Sundays.

B. Lawn watering with a hose or hose-end sprinkler:

(1) Properties may only use water for this purpose two days per week.

(a) Properties with even number addresses may only use water on Wednesdays and Saturdays.

(b) Properties with odd number addresses may only use water on Thursdays and Sundays.

(2) Watering shall only be conducted between the hours of 6:00 a.m. and 9:00 a.m. or between the hours of 5:00 p.m. and 8:00 p.m.

(3) The watering of any single area shall not exceed thirty 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.

C. Irrigating lawns and landscapes with automatic irrigation systems equipped with a conventional irrigation controller:

(1) Properties may only use water for this purpose two days per week.

(a) Properties with even number addresses may only use water on Wednesdays and Saturdays.

(b) Properties with odd number addresses may only use water on Thursdays and Sundays.

(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.

D. Flowers and shrubs irrigated with drip or microirrigation:

(1) Properties may use water for this purpose as needed.

E. State of New Jersey requirements shall supersede those identified in this section when more stringent than those identified in this article.

§ 687-150 Declaration of extreme water emergency.

A. Upon declaration of an extreme water emergency by the City of Vineland, outside water use is strictly prohibited. In addition to the outside prohibition and whenever possible, all inside water use for homes and businesses shall be reduced.

B. Outdoor water use for commercial farms producing harvestable crops, commercial nurseries, and sod farms are exempt from extreme water emergency restrictions.

C. Non-turf plants may be watered by hand-held containers

§ 687-151 Violations.

A. Violations of the water use restrictions in § 687-149 include outdoor water use on days not permitted in this article, or during hours not permitted in this article, where said use is not explicitly exempted by § 687-154, Exemptions.

B. Violations of the extreme water emergency restrictions in § 687-150 include any outdoor water use not explicitly exempted by § 687-150, Extreme water emergency.

C. Violations of these restrictions are subject to the fines and penalties described in § 687-153, Penalties.

§ 687-152 Enforcement of water conservation restrictions.

A. Enforcement of the above restrictions shall be administered by representatives of the Water Utility, and any representative of the City (i.e., inspectors, fire fighters, police), who will inform the Water Utility of any violations. All fines imposed per § 687-153, Penalties shall be added onto the next regular billing cycle of the offending property.

B. All written warnings issued per § 687-153, Penalties shall include an explanation of the penalties for additional offenses.

C. The Water Utility shall keep such records as may be reasonable and necessary for the purpose of determining the persons and businesses who have been warned or fined for violations of this article.

§ 687-153 Penalties.

A. Water use restrictions per § 687-149.

(1) First offense: written warning.

(2) Second offense: written warning.

(3) Third offense: fine of $100.

(4) Fourth offense: fine of $250.

(5) Fifth offense: fine of $500 and water shut-off until payment made.

B. Extreme water emergency restrictions per § 687-150.

(1) First offense: written warning.

(2) Second offense: fine of $250.

(3) Third offense: fine of $500 and water shut-off until payment is made and water emergency is lifted.

§ 687-154 Exemptions.

The water use restrictions in § 687-149, Water use restrictions above do not apply to the following:

A. Outdoor water use from rain water harvesting, gray water, or reclaimed water are exempt from the provisions of the ordinance. Use of gray or reclaimed water must have an approved NJPDES permit issued through the NJDEP.

B. Outdoor water use for commercial farms producing harvestable crops, commercial nurseries, sod farms and golf courses are exempt from the provisions of the article.

C. Other commercial uses including, but not limited to, commercial car washing and commercial power washing.

D. 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.

E. Outdoor irrigation necessary for the establishment of newly sodded lawns or landscaping within the first 21 consecutive days of planting.