[HISTORY Adopted by the Mayor and Council of the Borough
of Bergenfield as indicated in article histories. Amendments noted
where applicable.]
[Adopted 8-17-2021 by Ord. No. 21-2583]
The purpose of this article is to limit, restrict and regulate
the use of water by residents and commercial institutions during periods
of emergencies, as hereinafter defined, in order to ensure public
health and safety.
For the purpose of this article, the following words and phrases
shall have the meanings respectively ascribed to them by this section:
Hose end irrigation systems and automatic irrigation devices.
An irrigation method that saves water and fertilizer by allowing
water to drip slowly to the roots of many different plants, either
onto the soil surface or directly onto the root zone, through a network
of valves, pipes, tubing, and emitters.
Any period of water shortage or imminent water shortage caused
by drought, lack or failure of proper pumping equipment, shortage
or other facilities; acts of God or public enemies; or excessive demand
upon or use of water facilities or capacity.
A hose designed to be operated while being held in the hand
and equipped with a nozzle that automatically shuts off when released.
The watering or sprinkling (including automatic sprinkling)
of lawns, shrubs and gardens.
The New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection.
The New Jersey Pollutant Discharge Elimination System.
A weather-based irrigation controller or soil-moisture-based
irrigation controller meeting criteria specified and labeled as being
compliant under the United States Environmental Protection Agency
Water Sense Program.
That water obtained, delivered and supplied by a public water
supply to the Borough of Bergenfield or pumped from private wells
for residential irrigation purposes.
The Borough Administrator (or other official designated by the
Mayor and Council) is authorized to enforce the provisions of this
article and, in his/her discretion, to determine and declare the existence
and extent of an emergency with respect to the water supply. Notification
of the water emergency shall be promulgated to all residents and commercial
institutions in the most reasonably expeditious manner.
(Enter whatever notice procedures are set for Bergenfield.)
It shall be unlawful and a violation hereof for any person to
use water during the emergency period in violation of this article.
Any property owner (or occupant) found to be in violation of the provisions
of this article shall be subject to a fine up to a maximum of $2,000
per violation, per individual block and lot location.
The following irrigation schedule and water emergency regulations
are hereby adopted to become effective as set forth herein:
A.
Irrigation schedule, effective year round. The emergency stages shall
be as follows:
(1)
Stage I, Pending/Critical: Mandatory restriction for all properties
to the use of a hand-held hose on Tuesdays and Saturdays for properties
with odd-numbered addresses and Wednesdays and Sundays for properties
with even-numbered addresses. No irrigation of any kind shall be allowed
on Mondays, Thursdays, or Fridays.
(2)
Stage II, Critical: Irrigation is prohibited at any time. Exceptions
for irrigation using a hand-held hose may be allowed under conditions
prescribed by the Borough Administrator.
B.
Stage I and Stage II emergency regulations shall become effective
upon declaration of each stage by the Borough Administrator. The cleaning
of cars, houses or property, filling of swimming pools or other outdoor
water usage shall be prohibited during Stage I and Stage II.
C.
Exceptions to the water restrictions shall be determined by the Borough
Administrator. The requests for an exception shall be submitted to
the Borough Administrator in writing. Exceptions are subject to renewal
annually and may be voided at any time due to an emergency. The exceptions
may include the following:
(1)
Outdoor irrigation necessary for the establishment of newly sodded
or seeded grass lawns or landscaping within the first 21 consecutive
days of planting.
(2)
Irrigation of lawns or plantings with smart controllers.
(3)
Outdoor water use from rain harvesting (rain barrels, etc.), gray
water, or reclaimed water. Use of gray or reclaimed water must have
an approved NJPDES permit issued through NJDEP.
(4)
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.
(5)
Other outdoor water usage.
D.
Irrigation shall not be conducted between 10:00 a.m. and 6:00 p.m.
on any day. Irrigation using automatic systems may only be used between
3:00 a.m. and 7:00 a.m.
E.
All automatic irrigation systems shall be equipped with an operational
automatic rain sensor device. Each rain sensor device shall be capable
of and programmed to interrupt the automatic irrigation cycle when
a 1/4 inch of rain has fallen.
The enforcement of the provisions of this article shall be the
responsibility of the Borough Code Enforcement Officer and any other
officer and/or Borough employee duly appointed by the Borough Administrator.
