[Adopted 5-14-2002 by L.L.
No. 4-2002]
This article shall be known and may be cited as the "Water Conservation
Law of the Town of Cortlandt."
Whenever an emergency is declared by the Supervisor of the Town, the
following restrictions shall be in full force and effect:
A. Upon receipt of a report or recommendation from the Director
based upon factors, including, but not limited to, the levels of the Northern
Westchester Joint Water Works' water supply sources, precipitation levels
in the county and its watershed area and the time of year, the Supervisor
may declare the existence of a water emergency in the area of the towns served
by the Northern Westchester Joint Water Works at a level, as specified below,
which, in the Director of the Joint Water Works and the Supervisor's opinions,
is necessary or advisable to safeguard available water supplies.
B. Upon providing notice thereof by publication in the official
newspaper of the member towns, the following restrictions on water consumption
shall apply 24 hours thereafter and until further notice:
(1) Level One.
(a) The use of fire hydrants for any purpose other than fire
protection is prohibited.
(b) The serving of water to patrons in restaurants, clubs
or eating places, unless specifically requested by the customer, is prohibited.
(c) The operation of car washes, unless recirculating equipment
is used, is prohibited.
(d) Ornamental or display use of water, whether or not such
water is recycled water, including fountains, artificial waterfalls, reflecting
pools, lakes and ponds, is prohibited.
(e) The use of hoses for street, driveway, sidewalk and automobile washing is prohibited, except as stated in Subsection
B(1)(f) below. Automobile washing with a bucket is permitted.
(f) Watering of lawns and plants is prohibited, except that
water may be used to irrigate vegetables and fruits grown for human consumption
without restriction on maximum hours of use per day and at any time, from
a hand-held container or from a hand-held hose with a spring-operated shutoff
valve.
(g) Plant nurseries and other commercial users engaged in
the business of growing, distributing or selling plants may, nevertheless,
use, per day and at any time, such water on their business premises for watering
shrubs, plants and trees.
(h) Watering of golf course fairways is prohibited.
(i) The use of water in the cleaning of exterior buildings
is prohibited, except by permit issued by the local water districts.
(j) Leaks in consumer water connections shall be repaired
within 48 hours.
(k) Water meters shall be installed on all air-conditioning
cooling towers within 30 days. Air-conditioning units over two tons are required
to have recirculating equipment.
(l) Swimming pools shall not be filled, except by permit
issued by the local water districts.
(m) Any other restrictions as may be imposed by the City
of New York DEP on any of the users of water supplied by the city.
(2) Level Two.
(a) Level One restrictions continue in effect.
(b) Golf course tees and greens, lawns and gardens shall
not be watered, except that water may be used to irrigate, from a hand-held
container only, vegetables or fruits grown for human consumption.
(c) Any other restrictions as may be imposed by the City
of New York DEP on any users of water supplied by the city.
C. In addition to any restrictions set forth herein, any
consumer of water from the water system of the Town shall be responsible for
complying with any water restrictions as may be placed in effect and promulgated
by the New York City DEP or the Westchester County DOH. Any violation of the
restrictions promulgated by these agencies shall also be deemed to be a violation
of this article.
If, at any time during the existence of a water emergency condition
set forth in this article, the Director of the Joint Water Works, on the basis
of a report or recommendation from the NYCDEP, determines that the restrictions
imposed have resulted in a sufficient level of conservation in light of existing
water supply conditions, the Director may recommend that the Supervisor reduce
or terminate the restrictions then in effect, by declaration, upon providing
notice thereof by publication in a newspaper of general circulation in the
Town.
While the restrictions set forth herein are not mandated or applicable
to those properties which are serviced by private wells, the Town Board finds
that it would be appropriate for all property owners, who are serviced by
private wells, to conserve water since the wells draw from the same limited
aquifer and the preservation of the water and the aquifer during periods of
drought is most important for the general public health, welfare and safety.
This article shall be enforced by the water departments, Town code enforcement
officials, any police agency within the Town, and any other official authorized
to enforce the local laws and ordinances of the Town.
[Adopted 8-20-1991 as part
of L.L. No. 1-1991]
As used in this article, the following terms shall have the meanings
indicated:
AIR GAP
The unobstructed vertical distance through the free atmosphere between
the lowest opening from any pipe or faucet supplying water to a tank, plumbing
fixture or other device and the flood-level rim of the receptacle.
APPROVED
Accepted by the water district and by the Department of Health as
meeting an applicable specification stated or cited in this article or as
suitable for the proposed use.
AUXILIARY SUPPLY
Any water source or system other than the water district water supply
which may be available in the building or premises.
BACKFLOW
The flow of water or other liquids, mixtures or substances into the
distributing pipes of a potable supply of water from any source or sources
other than its intended source. Backsiphonage is one (1) type of "backflow."
BACKSIPHONAGE
The flowing back of used, contaminated or polluted water from a plumbing
fixture or vessel or other source into a water supply pipe due to a negative
pressure in such pipe.
BAROMETRIC LOOP
A loop of pipe rising approximately thirty-five (35) feet at its
topmost point above the highest fixture it supplies.
CHARGES
Sums charged and paid for work, labor and services rendered by the
district incident to a service connection, installation, replacement, removal
or repair.
CHECK VALVE
An automatically operated device which is designed to permit the
flow of fluids in one (1) direction and to close if there is a reversal of
flow.
CONSUMER SERVICE LINES
The supply pipe with appurtenances extending from the curb stopcock
to the inside of the wall of the building or premises supplied.
CROSS-CONNECTION
Any physical connection or arrangement between two (2) otherwise
separate piping systems, one (1) of which contains potable water and the other
water of unknown or questionable safety, steam, gases or chemicals whereby
there may be a flow from one system to the other. See "backflow" and "backsiphonage."
DRAIN
Any pipe which carries water or waterborne wastes in a building drainage
system.
FEES
Sums charged and paid for all applications filed with the Cortlandt
Consolidated Water District.
FIXTURE, PLUMBING
Installed receptacles, devices or appliances supplied with water
or which receive or discharge liquids or liquidborne wastes.
HAZARD, HEALTH
Any conditions, devices or practices in the water supply system and
its operation which create or may create a danger to the health and well-being
of the water consumer. An example of a "health hazard" is a structural defect
in the water supply system, whether of location, design, or construction,
which may regularly or occasionally prevent satisfactory purification of the
water supply or cause it to be polluted from extraneous sources.
HAZARD, PLUMBING
Any arrangement of plumbing, including piping and fixtures, whereby
a cross-connection is created.
HYDROPNEUMATIC TANK
A pressure vessel in which air pressure acts upon the surface of
the water contained within the vessel, pressurizing the water distribution
piping connected to the vessel.
MAINS or DISTRIBUTION MAINS
Pipes in the street which deliver the water to the service pipes
attached thereto and which supply the premises of an owner.
METER
A mechanical device which registers and records the quantity of water
supplied to the user.
OUTLET
The open end of the water supply pipe through which the water is
discharged into the plumbing fixtures.
PLUMBING SYSTEM
Includes the water supply and distribution pipes; plumbing fixtures
and traps; soil, waste and vent pipes; building drains and building sewers,
including their respective connections, devices and appurtenances, within
the property lines of the premises; and water-treating or water-using equipment.
POLLUTION
The presence of any foreign substance (organic, inorganic, radiological
or biological) in water which tends to degrade its quality so as to constitute
a hazard or impair the usefulness of the water.
RATES
Sums charged and paid for actual water consumption.
SERVICES
Intallations, repairs, turn-ons and turnoffs, replacement and removals.
STREET SERVICE CONNECTIONS
The supply pipe with appurtenances extending from the water main
in the street to and including the curb stopcock or gate valve located in
the area between the curbline or the edge of the traveledway and the property
line in front of the premises supplied. The size of the "street service connection"
is defined as the diameter of the pipe between the tap in the main and the
curb stop or valve.
SURGE TANK
An open tank connected to the top of a surge pipe to avoid loss of
water during pressure surges. A "surge tank" is usually connected to the pressure
pipe leading water to the turbine at a water power station.
TAP
Drilling into a distribution main for the purpose of making a service
connection.
USER
All authorized individuals, districts, municipalities, corporations
or other entities drawing water from the district's system or the Montrose
Improvement District or any other district duly authorized and existing pursuant
to the laws of the State of New York or the laws and ordinances of any subdivision
thereof.
WATER DISTRICT
The Cortlandt Consolidated Water District and the Superintendent
and employees of said district vested with the authority and responsibility
for the enactment and enforcement of this Article. The Cortlandt Consolidated
Water District shall hereinafter be referred to as the "district."
WATER, POTABLE
Any water which according to recognized standards is safe for human
consumption.
WATER RULES AND REGULATIONS
The following rules and regulations as established by the district
or as hereinafter amended or modified, which are hereby made a part of an
any and all agreement or contracts entered into by said district with each
and every consumer, builder, developer, taker or user of water furnished directly
or indirectly from the water mains of said district with the same force and
effect as though therein set forth in full.
WATERWORKS SUPERINTENDENT
The certified and duly appointed person directing the overall operation
of a moderate-size water supply and sewage disposal system, including the
performance of difficult maintenance and administration work, who does related
work as required, and who is responsible for preparation and implementation
of the water district budget.
Only one (1) street service connection will be allowed for each building
or group of buildings in a single property or holding, except that the district
may allow or may require one (1) or more additional street service connections
and meters if, in its judgment, unusual physical conditions or demands warrant
them. The consumer, in such cases, shall pay the additional charges at the
rates prescribed above for the various sizes of street service connections.
The district will, at its expense, maintain, repair or renew street
service connections up to and including one (1) inch in diameter supplying
water to premises located inside the corporate limits of the town, except
that curb boxes covered or broken by the consumer will be repaired at the
expense of the latter, and except that if the requirements for water on a
particular premises have increased beyond those for which the connection was
originally installed, the town may require the installation of a complete
larger street service connection at the expense of consumer. If a property
owner desires to have his service connection enlarged, replaced or renewed
because of lack of pressure or for any other reason, he shall first replace,
at his expense, the portion of the service connection between the curb stopcock
and the facility with pipe of the required size. If, in the judgment of district
officials, the situation has not been adequately remedied, the district will
then replace the portion of the service connection between the curb stopcock
and the main. Street service connections serving premises located outside
the corporate limits of the district shall be maintained, repaired or replaced
by the owner of the premises served as required by the district.
Consumer service lines shall be Type K copper and shall be not less
than three-fourths (3/4) inch in internal diameter.
The curb stop shall be installed between the curb and the sidewalk where
practicable. Where no sidewalk exists, the curb stop shall be located one
(1) foot outside the street property line.