[HISTORY: Adopted by the Merchantville Borough Council 9-14-1992. Amendments noted where applicable.]
Protracted periods of high temperatures and limited rainfall
may cause excessive demands upon the water system of the Merchantville-Pennsauken
Water Commission, and a temporary lack of sufficient water capacity
may result in a lowering of the normal water levels of the sources
of water supply to the Merchantville-Pennsauken Water Commission,
and the excessive use of water during the spring, summer and fall
months caused by the sprinkling of lawns, filling of swimming pools,
car washing and other similar uses not related to the use of water
for domestic and sanitary purposes and fire protection may cause a
serious reduction in adequate pressure in the water distribution systems
of the franchise area of the Merchantville-Pennsauken Water Commission,
which includes residents of this municipality. In the interest of
the health, safety and welfare of the inhabitants of this municipality,
it is necessary to take all reasonable precautions and measures promptly
to conserve water and maintain such water pressure as is necessary
for sanitary, domestic and fire-fighting purposes.
In case of an emergency where the available supply or water becomes dangerously low, the Merchantville-Pennsauken Water Commission will notify the Mayor, in writing, of the existence of a water emergency. The notification shall state that an emergency exists requiring the implementation of such measures for the conservation of water for domestic and sanitary purposes and fire protection as are specified in §§ 22-3 and 22-4.
A.
The declaration of an emergency shall specify whether the emergency
is one requiring full curtailment or partial curtailment of nonessential
water usage, as defined herein:
(1)
"Full curtailment of nonessential water usage" shall mean an absolute
prohibition of the use of water from the Merchantville-Pennsauken
Water Commission system for the sprinkling of lawns, car washing and
other related uses until the emergency shall be terminated by declaration
of the Merchantville-Pennsauken Water Commission.
(2)
"Partial curtailment of nonessential water usage" shall mean the
prohibition of the use of water from the Merchantville-Pennsauken
Water Commission system for sprinkling of lawns, filling of swimming
pools, car washing and other related uses or any of the foregoing
on certain days of the week and/or the foregoing on certain hours
of the day. The terms of the partial curtailment shall be set forth
in the declaration.
B.
In case of any such emergency declaration as is described herein,
the terms of the curtailment may be modified by amendment from time
to time on any change in emergency conditions.
The use and withdrawal of water by any person during a water
emergency for the following purposes is hereby prohibited:
A.
Watering yards: the sprinkling, watering or irrigation of shrubbery,
trees, lawns, grass, ground covers, plants, vines, gardens, vegetables,
flowers or any other vegetation.
B.
Washing mobile equipment: the washing of automobiles, trucks, trailers
or any other type of mobile equipment.
C.
Cleaning outdoor surfaces: the washing of sidewalks, walkways, driveways,
porches and other outdoor surfaces.
D.
Cleaning buildings: the washing of the outside of dwellings; the
washing of the inside and outside of office buildings.
E.
Cleaning equipment and machinery: the washing and cleaning of any
business or industrial equipment and machinery.
F.
Ornamental fountains: the operation of any ornamental fountain or
other structure making a similar use of water.
G.
Swimming pools: the filling of swimming and wading pools.
Immediately following the passage of any of the emergency declarations
hereinbefore described, a copy of the declaration shall be published
in the Courier Post and one (1) other newspaper circulated in the
municipality and posted throughout the municipality in the municipal
building and the offices of the Merchantville-Pennsauken Water Commission.
The declaration of any emergency shall be conclusive of the
fact of the existence of such emergency and shall be binding upon
all persons and users upon the filing of the same in the office of
the Municipal Clerk and the publication thereof in at least one (1)
newspaper circulated in the municipality.
The declaration of emergency shall continue in full force and
effect, except as amended, until terminated by a resolution of termination
adopted by the Merchantville-Pennsauken Water Commission.
During the water emergency, all premises receiving water from
the Merchantville-Pennsauken Water Commission system shall be subject
to inspection between sunrise and sunset by the Commission's
employees or any other person duly authorized and appointed by the
municipality or Commission to perform inspections to cover compliance
during the water emergency. It shall be a violation of this chapter
for any person to hinder, obstruct, delay, resist or prevent any such
inspection as is described herein. Nothing herein shall be deemed
to limit the power of the Police Department to conduct a search of
any premises at any time when they have probable cause to believe
that a violation of this section has been committed.
It shall be a violation of this chapter for any person to use
water from the Merchantville-Pennsauken Water Commission water system
at any time during the water emergency in a manner prohibited by any
declaration issued pursuant to this chapter.
In the event that there is on any premises a continuing usage
of water from the Merchantville-Pennsauken Water Commission water
system by any person in a manner prohibited by any declaration issued
pursuant to this chapter, such continuing usage is hereby declared
to be health hazard. The owner, occupant and/or operator of the premises
whereon the violation is occurring shall be served with written notice
of the violation by the delivery to any such owner, occupant and/or
operator or the agent or employee of any of same actually on the premises.
If no such person is present, the notice shall be posted on the premises.
If, after the passage of one (1) hour from the delivery or posting
of such notice the health hazard has not been abated, any employee
of the municipality or the Merchantville-Pennsauken Water Commission
is hereby authorized to enter upon the premises to abate the health
hazard. Thereafter, the municipality or Commission, as the case may
be, shall assess the costs of such abatement against the owner, operator
and/or occupant of the premises.
B.
Any person found guilty of violating § 22-10 shall be subject to a fine of five hundred dollars ($500.) for each twenty-four hour period or part thereof in which it can be proven that the violation occurred.
C.
Any person found guilty of renewing a continuing violation after
it has been abated shall be subject to up to ninety (90) days'
imprisonment.
D.
No person shall be fined for any violation of any declaration issued
pursuant to this chapter if such violation occurs less than forty-eight
(48) hours after the passage of the declaration.
E.
It shall be a complete defense to a charge of violating this chapter
if it can be shown that the defendant should not reasonably have known
the violation was occurring because it was due to a latent defect
in plumbing or other water conduct.