[Adopted 7-5-2017 by Ord.
No. Z-507]
Restrictions on outdoor landscape water use apply to all users in the City of Hoboken at all times regardless of source of supply (e.g., public water supplies, groundwater, stormwater detention systems) unless expressly exempt in § 193-17, 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 with even-numbered
addresses may only water on Mondays and Thursdays; properties with
odd-numbered addresses may only water on Tuesdays and Fridays.
(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 shutoff 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.):
(1)
May only be done two days per week. Properties with even-numbered
addresses may only water on Mondays and Thursdays; properties with
odd-numbered addresses may only water on Tuesdays and Fridays.
(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 City
of Hoboken and display a yard placard 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, register that person with the City with defining
qualifications, and display a yard placard signifying that the property
is monitored 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 article, such person may be disqualified
from acting as an 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:
(1)
Must be installed by an EPA WaterSense partner who holds a New Jersey
Landscape Irrigation Contractor Certificate pursuant to N.J.S.A. 45:5AA-3.
(2)
Must follow the New Jersey Irrigation Best Management Design Practices:
(a)
Designing a system that ensures sufficient operating 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 a pressure regulating device and wye strainer on each
drip/micro control valve.
(3)
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)
The smart controller must be an EPA WaterSense labeled smart
controller and listed on its website http://www.epa.gov/watersense/product_search.html.
(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 a Declaration of Water Emergency by the Mayor, additional restrictions
may be imposed and shall supersede the restrictions in this article.
H.
State of New Jersey requirements shall supersede those identified
in this section when more stringent than those identified in this
article.
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:
(1)
Watering during any form of precipitation.
(2)
Water leaking from any irrigation equipment.
(3)
Water puddling on landscape or impervious surfaces.
(4)
Water runoff from irrigated property.
(5)
Irrigating on days not permitted in this article.
(6)
Irrigating at hours not permitted in this article.
B.
Violators of these guidelines and requirements are subject to fines and penalties described in § 193-16, Penalties.
C.
All water users in the City of Hoboken are responsible for preventing
the above violations.
A.
The water use restrictions and automatic rain sensor requirement
imposed pursuant to this section shall be enforced by the local authorized
official, to be designated by the Administration.
B.
Whenever a local authorized official shall find a violation of the water use restrictions, regardless of the source of the water, such authorized official shall issue a written warning and explain the penalties for a second and third offense, as provided in § 193-16, Penalties.
C.
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.
D.
The local authorized official is hereby empowered to write summonses
for the violation of the water use restrictions imposed pursuant to
this section.
A.
After a warning for a first offense in accordance with § 193-15, any person or business thereafter violating or failing to comply with any provision of this article or any regulations promulgated pursuant thereto shall be punishable by a fine not to exceed $1,000, except that the maximum fine for failure to comply with this chapter and regulations issued pursuant thereto shall not exceed $50 for the first three violations.
B.
Each day for which a violation of this chapter occurs shall be considered
a separate offense.
Section 193-13, Water use restrictions, does not apply to the following:
A.
Outdoor water use from rainwater harvesting, gray water, or reclaimed
water. Use of gray or reclaimed water must have an approved NJPDES
permit issued through the NJDEP.
B.
Outdoor water use for green roofs, commercial farms and/or nurseries
producing harvestable crops.
C.
Outdoor irrigation necessary for one day only where treatment with
an application of chemicals requires 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-3) and at the minimum rate
necessary in order to check the system's condition and effectiveness.
