[Adopted 6-4-2002 as Sec.
17-7 of the 1996 Code]
The Town of Manchester Water Department has in place an Emergency Contingency
Plan which plan has been reviewed and approved by the State of Connecticut
Department of Public Health, Water Supply Section. The Board of Directors,
with the adoption of this article, hereby incorporates that Emergency Contingency
Plan by reference, as said plan may be amended from time to time. The Water
Department shall monitor, in accordance with the Department's Emergency Contingency
Plan, the Town's available water supplies to insure that sufficient water
supplies are available to adequately meet the health and sanitation requirements
of those residents of the Town who are supplied by water from the Town's water
system, provide sufficient fire-fighting capacity, and provide a reserve sufficient
to meet the foregoing requirements and meet such emergencies and contingencies
as may exist from time to time. The Water Department may implement any and
all voluntary conservation measures identified in the Department's Emergency
Contingency Plan or as imposed by the State of Connecticut Department of Health.
If the Water Department determines, in accordance with the standards set forth in the Department's Emergency Contingency Plan, that the amount of available water supplies is below an amount sufficient to meet the requirements of § 315-8 hereof, or that weather and hydrological conditions are such that continued demand threatens to reduce the amount of available water supplies below an amount sufficient to meet the requirements of § 315-8 hereof, it may request the General Manager to take action pursuant to § 315-10 herein.
A.
The General Manager, or his designee, at the request
and recommendation of the Water Department, may impose voluntary water conservation
restrictions within the service area, in whole or in part, in accordance with
the Water Department's Emergency Contingency Plan.
B.
In the event the General Manager determines, with the
advice of the Water Department, that the voluntary water conservation restrictions
are insufficient to stabilize the water supply and determines that mandatory
water conservation restrictions are necessary, the General Manager may declare
that a water supply emergency exists and obtain the approval of the Board
of Directors prior to implementing mandatory water conservation restrictions.
The recommendations for mandatory water conservation restrictions to be made
to the Board of Directors shall be in accordance with the Water Department's
Emergency Contingency Plan and based upon the following levels of a water
supply emergency:
(1)
Phase I Water Supply Emergency (60% capacity of available
water in storage). Mandatory conservation water use restrictions will include
prohibition of certain nonessential outside water uses such as lawn and gardening
watering, use of sprinklers for recreation facilities, swimming pool filling,
washing of motor vehicles, exterior of houses or equipment.
(2)
Phase II Water Supply Emergency (40% capacity of available
water in storage). Continued imposition of the mandatory conservation water
use restrictions in Phase I supplemented by a prohibition of all outside water
usage and a request for indoor conservation measures such as reduced time
spent in showers, request to wash only full loads of clothes, reduce water
usage for cleaning of dishes, brushing of teeth; requesting a reduction of
water usage by major users; and initiate procedures to implement rate pricing
structure to promote conservation.
(3)
Phase III Water Supply Emergency (30% capacity of available
water in storage). Continued imposition of the mandatory conservation water
use restrictions in Phases I and II supplemented by a reduction in the operations
of major users of water as necessary and institution of final phase of mandatory
conservation water use restrictions which may include rationing of water.
Notice of the restrictions imposed pursuant to § 315-10 herein, shall be published in a newspaper having a general circulation in the Town at least three days before the effective date of such restrictions or by such other means as the General Manager deems desirable. In extreme emergency situations, as determined by the General Manager in conjunction with consultations with the Water Department and in accordance with the Department's Emergency Contingency Plan, the General Manager may immediately impose such restrictions and waive the three-day prior notification requirement. In such cases, the imposed restrictions will be published in a newspaper having general circulation or by any other means the General Manager deems appropriate within three days of the effective date of the establishment of such restriction.
If at any time after the imposition of restrictions, the General Manager deems it necessary to impose additional restrictions within the service area, in whole or in part, to those previously imposed, the General Manager may do so and the revisions shall be published in accordance with the provisions of § 315-11 hereof. The General Manager may also impose a "water conservation rate" that is identified in the Water Department's Schedule or Rates, Charges and Fees as approved by the Board of Directors.
A.
The restrictions established by the General Manager, pursuant to §§ 315-10, 315-11 and 315-12 herein, shall not apply to any user of the Town's water system which use is necessary to maintain an adequate level of health or sanitation standards as determined by the Town's Director of Health. Any such users who consider that the restrictions as imposed adversely affect their health or sanitation may make written application for a waiver. Any such application should be directed to the attention of the Water and Sewer Department Administrator. The Administrator will verify that the applicant is a user within the system and then forward the application to the Director of Health who then makes the determination whether a waiver should be granted. This decision shall be made within three days of receipt of the application by the Director of Health. In the event of a denial, the applicant for a waiver may appeal such decision to the General Manager who will make the final determination.
B.
The restrictions established by the General Manager pursuant
to this article shall not apply to any fire-fighting or civil defense emergency.
C.
In cases where the water use restrictions directly affect
the livelihood of a user, such user shall submit a written application for
a waiver to the Water and Sewer Department Administrator for his review and
approval or denial. Such determination shall be made within three days of
the receipt of the application. In the event of a denial, the applicant for
a waiver may appeal such decision to the General Manager who will make the
final determination.
Any person, organization or business entity who is not connected to
the Town's public water supply system may apply to the Water and Sewer Department
for a certificate evidencing such fact and, upon inquiry from any person charged
with the enforcement of this article, shall make such certificate available.
Any person, organization or business entity found to be violating any
of the water use restrictions imposed by the General Manager herein shall
be fined $99. In the case of a continuing violation, each continuance thereof
shall be deemed to be a separate and distinct offense.
Upon a determination by the Water Department, in accordance with the
standards set forth in the Department's Emergency Contingency Plan, that the
water supplies available to the Town's water system are such that a water
supply emergency is no longer necessary or may be modified, it shall notify
the General Manager, who shall publish a notice of termination of the water
supply emergency or modifications of restrictions imposed, in a newspaper
having a substantial circulation within the Town or by other means that it
deems desirable.
This article shall not be construed as prohibiting the taking of any
action which may be necessary to ensure the safe and secure operation of the
Town's water system in the interval between the occurrence of an event giving
rise to a water supply emergency and the imposition of any water conservation
measures or use restrictions by the General Manager. The Water Department,
through its Water and Sewer Administrator, shall take such action as may be
necessary to ensure the safe and secure operation of the Town's water system
during such intervals, in accordance with the standards set forth in the Department's
Emergency Contingency Plan.
