[HISTORY: Adopted by the Board of Selectmen of the Town of
Simsbury 9-24-2018. Amendments
noted where applicable.]
GENERAL REFERENCES
Water — See Ch. 156.
A.
The Town of Simsbury, under its powers pursuant to state law, has
adopted this chapter to protect public health and welfare. This chapter
implements the Town's authority to impose water use restrictions,
conditioned upon a finding by the Board of Selectmen that a critical
water shortage exists, or 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.
B.
The purpose of this chapter is to protect, preserve and maintain
the public health, safety and welfare whenever there is in force a
finding by the Simsbury Board of Selectmen of a critical water shortage
or a declaration by the State of Connecticut of a State 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 Town or by the State of Connecticut.
C.
Pursuant to the General Statutes of the State of Connecticut, it
is hereby declared to be in the best interest of the public health
and safety of the residents and citizens of the Town of Simsbury to
assist in regulating and restricting the use of water during a critical
water shortage.
When used in this chapter, unless the context otherwise requires:
Employees or designees of the Town as designated by the Town
Manager to enforce this chapter.
Shall exist whenever the Board of Selectmen, after there
has been consultation with the water companies and other persons the
Board deems appropriate, determines that the water supplies available
to the Town are at, or are in danger of reaching, levels insufficient
to provide for the normal needs of the public health, preservation
of human life, sanitation, safety, welfare and economy of the Town.
A critical water shortage will also be referred to as a "Stage 2 water
shortage."
Shall be construed to mean and include an individual, a corporation,
a partnership, a trust, an unincorporated organization, business organization
of any kind or any other group or organization.
Shall exist whenever the Board of Selectmen, after there
has been consultation with the water companies and other persons the
Board deems appropriate, determines that the adequacy of the Town
water supply to meet the demands of the Town for health, sanitation
and preservation of businesses is threatened. A threatened water shortage
will also be referred to as a "Stage 1 water shortage."
Town means the Town of Simsbury.
Includes any measures recommended by the Board of Selectmen
in an effort to reduce water consumption in Simsbury. These are recommendations
offered without penalty.
Water from water companies, well water and water sources,
including, but not limited to, community water systems, ponds, lakes,
streams, rivers, and groundwater. Water from rain barrels, cisterns
or similar devices are excluded from this chapter.
The Aquarion Water Company, Connecticut Water Company or
the Tariffville Fire District or their successors and assigns or any
other public utility water company providing public water supply in
the Town.
Upon its determination that there is a Stage 1 threatened water
shortage, the Board of Selectmen may instruct the Town Manager to
prepare and implement a water management plan or, if such a plan already
exists, to update it as the Town Manager deems necessary. Such water
management plan shall address the staffing and processes by which
Town staff will address needs occasioned by the threatened water shortage,
and its implementation may include, among other activities, consultations
with other parties and preparation of recommendations to the Board
of Selectmen, including, among other matters, those concerning voluntary
water conservation matters.
A.
Upon its determination that a Stage 2 critical water shortage exists, and that voluntary conservation measures were implemented and have failed or are deemed inadequate to provide relief for the critical water shortage, the Board of Selectmen, after consultation with the water companies and other persons the Board deems appropriate, shall have the power to declare to be unlawful some or all of the following acts, subject to such reasonable and necessary exceptions as determined by the Board of Selectmen to be in the public interest. Such action shall be effective upon publication pursuant to § 157-5 of this chapter:
(1)
Using water to sprinkle, water or irrigate any plants, lawns, grass,
ground covers, vines, flowers, shrubbery, trees or any other vegetation
unless necessary to sustain food crops, crops for harvest or stocks
of a business inventory;
(2)
Using water for private and/or public recreational, ornamental or
decorative purposes, including but not limited to fountains, pools
or ponds;
(3)
Using water to wash or clean motor vehicles or trailers unless done
as a means of livelihood at a commercial facility. This restriction
shall not apply to vehicles required by law to be washed or cleaned
for sanitary, health or safety reasons;
(4)
Using water to wash or flush sidewalks, driveways, pavements, porches
or other outdoor surfaces;
(5)
Using water to wash the outside of buildings or structures;
(6)
Using water to wash or clean windows unless done as means of livelihood
and only then by washing or cleaning exclusively from a bucket or
container of three gallons' capacity or less;
(7)
Using water from fire hydrants, fire cisterns, dry hydrants, or fire
ponds, other than for health or public safety needs;
(8)
Permitting exterior water supply lines to remain in a state of disrepair,
resulting in the escape of water;
(9)
Operating an air-conditioning device or system using water as a coolant
unless the same shall be of the water-recirculating type;
(10)
Such other uses and activities as the Board of Selectmen shall
declare following public comment at a noticed meeting of the Board
of Selectmen.
B.
The Board of Selectmen may phase in the restrictions to tailor them
according to the severity and nature of the critical water shortage.
If the Board of Selectmen imposes restrictions under § 157-4 or modifies existing restrictions to make them stricter or more inclusive, it shall notify the Connecticut Department of Public Health, the Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection, and the Farmington Valley Health District, in writing, within 14 days of the effective date of the restrictions or changes. The Board of Selectmen shall give public notice of such restrictions or changes before they become effective.
A.
Any water users that consider the restrictions, as imposed, to adversely
affect their livelihood, publicly or privately held capital assets,
health or sanitation may make written application for a waiver and
file with the Town Clerk's office. Any such application shall
be directed to the attention of the Town Manager, who shall approve
or deny the waiver request. The Town Manager shall report to the Board
of Selectmen at its next meeting on all waiver requests and their
dispositions.
Whenever the authorized enforcement agency determines that a person has violated an enacted prohibition as identified in § 157-4 during a Stage 2 critical water shortage, the authorized enforcement agency is authorized to issue a fine to the violator in the amount of $100 for each offense. Each violation of a separate section shall be considered a separate offense and shall not merge with a violation of any other section. Any violation continued more than one day shall constitute a separate offense for each day such violation continues. The Town of Simsbury shall consult with water companies to ensure residents are not penalized by multiple entities for the same offenses.
A.
Waiver appeals. The notice of appeal must be received, in writing,
and filed with the Town Clerk's office within 10 business days
from receipt of the notice of the written decision. For this purpose,
notice shall be deemed received three calendar days from the date
of the written decision. Hearing on the appeal before the Board of
Selectmen shall take place at its next meeting, but not to exceed
15 business days from the date of receipt of the notice of appeal.
The decision of the Board of Selectmen shall be final.
B.
Citation appeals. Any person receiving a fine may appeal the determination
of the authorized enforcement agency. The notice of appeal must be
received, in writing, and filed with the Town Clerk's office
within 10 business days from receipt of the notice of the fine. For
this purpose, notice shall be deemed received three calendar days
from the date of the notice. Hearing on the appeal before the Hearing
Officer shall take place within 30 business days from the date of
receipt of the notice of appeal. The decision of the Hearing Officer
shall be final.
Any actions of the Board of Selectmen taken under this chapter shall continue in effect until the Board of Selectmen determines that there is no continuing need for restrictions. The Board of Selectmen shall review any finding of a water shortage at least every 30 days from the date of the initial finding. The Board of Selectmen shall cause notice of the various terminations to be published in the manner provided for in § 157-5.
If any part, subsection, sentence, clause, phrase or other portion
of this chapter is, for any reason, held invalid or unconstitutional
by any court of competent jurisdiction, such portion shall be deemed
to be a separate, distinct and independent provision, and such holding
shall not affect the validity of the remaining portions hereof.
