Generated from the order and the article it replaces; the packet has no marked-up copy. Struck wording is removed by the order; italic wording is added. Back to the diff
Article VI, Water Use Restriction
[Adopted 2-3-1998 by Doc. 31; amended in its entirety 8-23-2016 by Doc. 92-B]
§ 250-22 Authority.
This article ordinance is adopted by the City under its police powers to protect public health and welfare and its powers under MGL M.G.L. c. 40, § 21 et seq., and implements the City's authority to regulate water use pursuant to MGL c. 41, § 69B. seq. This article ordinance also implements the City's authority under MGL M.G.L. c. 40, § 41A, conditioned upon a declaration of water supply emergency issued by the Commonwealth of Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection (MassDEP). This ordinance is also intended to implement other water conservation requirements of M.G.L. c. 21G, the “Massachusetts Water Management Act” and its regulations promulgated under 310 CMR 36.00.
§ 250-23 Purpose.
The purpose of this article ordinance is to protect, preserve and maintain the public health, safety and welfare whenever there is in force a State of Water Supply Conservation or State of Water Supply Emergency by providing for enforcement of any duly imposed restrictions, requirements, provisions or conditions imposed by the City or by the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection.
§ 250-23.1 Applicability.
All Water Customers and Water Users shall be subject to this ordinance, which shall be in effect year-round.
§ 250-24 Definitions.
As used in this article, ordinance, the following terms shall have the meanings indicated:
AGRICULTURE
Farming in all its branches as defined at MGL M.G.L. c. 128, § 1A.
AUTOMATIC SPRINKLER SYSTEM
Any system for watering vegetation other than a hand-held hose or a bucket.
AUTOMATIC IRRIGATION SYSTEM
Any system, including sprinklers, for watering vegetation other than a hand-held hose or a bucket.
DIRECTOR
means the position responsible for oversight of the water division and may be the Director of Public Works, Deputy Director of Public Works, or the head of the water division.
NONESSENTIAL OUTDOOR WATER USE
Those uses that are not required:
A. For health or safety reasons;
B. By regulation;
C. For the production of food and fiber;
D. For the maintenance of livestock; or
E. To meet the core functions of a business (for example, irrigation by golf courses as necessary to maintain tees and greens, and limited fairway watering, or irrigation by plant nurseries or agricultural operations as necessary to maintain stock or establish new plantings, wash equipment to prevent damage and/or maintain performance, pest management and plant cooling).
means any outdoor water use that is not specified in 310 CMR 36.03, as may be amended by § 250-26, as an exempted outdoor water use.
PERSON
Any individual, corporation, trust, partnership or association, or other entity.
STATE OF WATER SUPPLY CONSERVATION
A State of Water Supply Conservation declared by the City pursuant to § 250-25 of this article.ordinance.
STATE OF WATER SUPPLY EMERGENCY
A state of water supply emergency declared by the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection under MGL M.G.L. c. 21G, §§ 15 through 17.
SUPPLY CAPACITY
A specific relationship between a reservoir's level and storage capacity expressed in percent.
WATER CONSUMERS
All public and private users of the City's public water system, irrespective of any person's responsibility for billing purposes for water used at any particular facility.
WATER CUSTOMERS
All persons using the public water supply, irrespective of that person's responsibility for payment for use of the water.
WATER USERS
All persons using water from the City's public water supply or using privately-owned wells within the City's boundaries.
§ 250-24.1 Irrigation System Requirements.
A. All in-ground irrigation systems installed after the date of effect of this ordinance shall be equipped with a soil moisture sensor and rain sensor to prevent the system from starting automatically when not needed, and a flow sensor for leak detection.
B. Any service or repair to an existing in-ground irrigation system shall include the installation of an approved moisture sensor, rain sensor, and flow sensor, if the same is not already installed and in good working condition.
C. All in-ground irrigation systems shall be plumbed so that a shutoff valve is located outside the building and situated so that it may be shut off if found to be in violation of this ordinance. For the purposes of this section only, Police Officers of the City and/or Agents of the Board of Water Commissioners may enter upon any property to enforce this section.
§ 250-25 Baseline Seasonal Conservation.
From May 15 through September 30, nonessential outdoor water use shall be limited to before 9:00 a.m. and after 5:00 p.m., unless otherwise modified by the City. The City may further restrict such use in accordance with § 250-25.1 and § 250-25.2.
§ 250-25 250-25.1 Declaration of State of Water Supply Conservation.
The City, through its Water Division, may shall declare a State of Water Supply Conservation upon a determination by the Director or Deputy Director of Public Works that a shortage of water exists and conservation measures are appropriate to ensure an adequate supply of water to all water consumers and to ensure compliance with the City's obligation obligations under the Water Management Act. Public notice of a State of Water Supply Conservation shall be given under § 250-27 of this article ordinance before it may be enforced.
§ 250-25.1 250-25.2 Method of determining Determining a State of Water Supply Conservation.
A. The City, through its Water Division, shall monitor the state of the City's water supply. The From May 15th through September 30th the City shall implement water conservation measures a State of Water Supply Conservation in stages based on trigger levels as set forth below.below and in accordance with 310 CMR 36.07 as applicable which shall be applicable to all Water Users.
5% reduction in Kenoza Lake supply capacity
Watch
Notice may be issued to all water consumers of the drought watch condition in accordance with § 250-27.
Drought Watch
From May 15 through September 30, nonessential outdoor water use may be limited to before 9:00 a.m. and after 5:00 p.m
10% reduction in Kenoza Lake supply capacity
Warning
Notice shall be issued to all water consumers of the drought warning status in accordance with § 250-27. All water consumers may be requested to enact water conservation measures as described in § 250-26 on a voluntary basis.
Level 1 Mild Drought
All nonessential outdoor water uses are restricted to no more than one day per week, before 9 a.m. and after 5 p.m., except the watering of ornamentals and flower gardens with drip irrigation, hand-held hose, or watering cans.
20% reduction in Kenoza Lake supply capacity
Emergency
Notice shall be issued to all water consumers of the drought emergency status in accordance with § 250-27. All water consumers shall be required to comply with mandatory water conservation measures as described in § 250-26. All water consumers shall also be required to comply with any additional mandatory water conservation measures as may be mandated by the city through its Water Division.
Level 2 Significant Drought
All nonessential outdoor water uses are banned, except that watering of ornamentals and flower gardens with drip irrigation, hand-held hose, or watering can.
35% reduction in Kenoza Lake supply capacity
Critical
Notice shall be issued to all water consumers of the critical drought status in accordance with § 250-27. All water consumers shall be required to comply with mandatory water conservation measures as described in § 250-26 in addition to those additional measures enacted to preserve the public water supply.
Level 3 Critical Drought
All nonessential outdoor water uses are banned.
>35% reduction in Kenoza Lake supply capacity
Level 4 Drought Emergency
All nonessential outdoor water uses are banned.
B. In the event that the trend of the City's water supply is declining at a rate, as monitored rate the Water Division deems concerning based on monitoring and forecast forecasting by the Water Division, the City may elect to enact any one of the above drought status conditions at any time to preserve the condition of the water supply.supply by providing notice as described in § 250-27.
C. Upon declaration of a Level 3 Critical Drought or Level 4 Emergency Drought, no participating individuals or businesses shall be eligible to receive a deduct-meter credit, adjustment, or reduction to their sewer bill for water used through the deduct meter, regardless of meter readings or previous eligibility. This suspension shall apply to all outdoor irrigation systems, including inground sprinkler systems, automatic irrigation systems, hose bibs, and any metered device used to exclude outdoor water use from sewer billing. Deduct meter credits shall be reinstated once the Director terminates the Level 3 or Level 4 drought condition in accordance with § 250-27.1. Deduct-meter credits shall resume on the first billing cycle following public notice of termination. The suspension of deduct-meter credits shall be included in the public notice required under § 250-27 for a State of Water Supply Conservation and § 250-28 for a State of Water Supply Emergency.
§ 250-26 Restricted nonessential outdoor water uses.
A declaration of a State of Water Supply Conservation shall include one or more of the following restrictions, conditions, or requirements limiting the use of water as necessary to protect the water supply. The applicable restrictions, conditions or requirements, as determined by the Director or Deputy Director of Public Works, shall be included in the public notice required under § 250-27.
A. Nonessential outdoor water use days. Nonessential outdoor water use, by water users, is permitted only on the days per week specified in the State of Water Supply Conservation or State of Water Supply Emergency and public notice thereof.
B. Nonessential outdoor water use ban. Nonessential outdoor water use is prohibited at all times.
C. Nonessential outdoor water use hours. Nonessential outdoor water use is permitted only during the hourly periods specified in the declaration of a State of Water Supply Conservation and public notice thereof.
D. Automatic sprinkler use. The irrigation of lawns via sprinklers or automatic irrigation systems is prohibited.
E. All other nonessential outdoor water use not specifically mentioned above as specified in the State of Water Supply Conservation or State of Water Supply Emergency and public notice thereof.
§ 250-26.1 Exceptions to nonessential outdoor water use.250-26 Nonessential Outdoor Water Use.
A. Unless the drought status reaches emergency or critical, as certified by the Water Division and the Director of Public Works or Deputy Director of Public Works, then the following items may be exempted as nonessential outdoor water use.
Nonessential outdoor water use means a use that is not required:
A. for health or safety reasons, including public facilities used for cooling such as splash pads and swimming pools, and for washing of boats, engines, or marine equipment to prevent negative saltwater impacts or the transfer of invasive aquatic species;
B. by permit, license, statute or regulation;
C. for the production of food, including vegetable gardens, and fiber;
D. for the maintenance of livestock;
(1) E. Irrigation with harvested and stored stormwater runoff;
(2) Water use for the purposes of agriculture;
(3) To meet the core functions of a business (for example, irrigation by golf courses as necessary to maintain tees and greens, and limited fairway watering, or irrigation by plant nurseries or agricultural operations as necessary to maintain stock or establish new plantings, wash equipment to prevent damage and/or maintain performance, pest management and plant cooling).
F. to meet the core functions (those functions essential to the commercial operations) of a business, including but not limited to:
(1) plant nurseries as necessary to maintain stock;
(2) golf courses as necessary to maintain greens and tees, and limited fairway watering per 310 CMR 36.07(2)(c)2.a. through c.;
(3) venues used for weddings or similar special events that limit watering to hand-held hose or drip irrigation as necessary to maintain gardens, flowers and ornamental plants;
(4) professional washing of exterior building surfaces, parking lots, driveways and/or sidewalks as necessary to apply surface treatments such as paint, preservatives, stucco, pavement, or cement in the course of construction, reconstruction or renovation work;
B. The following outdoor water uses are subject to review and approval by the City, through its Water Division:
(1) Irrigation of public parks and recreation fields by automatic sprinkler before 7:00 a.m. and after 7:00 p.m.;
G. for irrigation of public parks before 9:00 A.M. and after 5:00 P.M.,
H. for irrigation of public and private recreation fields, including those operated by schools, colleges, universities and athletic associations, before 9:00 A.M. and after 5:00 P.M.,
(2) Irrigation to establish replanted or resodded lawn or plantings during the months of May and September;
(3) Irrigation of newly planted lawns (seeded or sodded) in the current calendar year for homes or businesses newly constructed in the previous 12 months;
J. to establish a new lawn as necessary to stabilize soil in response to new construction or following the repair or replacement of a Title 5 system.
(4) Irrigation of gardens, flowers and ornamental plants by means of hand-held hose or drip irrigation systems; and
(5) Irrigation of established lawns by means of a hand-held hose only.
I. for irrigation of publicly-funded shade trees and trees in the public right-of-way; or
§ 250-27 Public notification of State of Water Supply Conservation; notification of MassDEP.
A. Notification of any provisions, restrictions, requirements or conditions imposed by the City as part of a State of Water Supply Conservation shall be published in a newspaper of general circulation within the City, or by such other means reasonably calculated to reach and inform all users of water of the State of Water Supply Conservation. Any restriction imposed under this section shall not be effective until such notification is provided, but no later than 48 hours after the declaration of a State of Water Supply Conservation. The City may also notify the public using other means determined to be appropriate. Notification may also include e-mail, websites, public service announcements on local media media, or other such means.
B. Submittal of MassDEP's form "Notification of Water Use Restriction" shall be provided to the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection per MassDEP regulations [310 CMR 22.15(8)].
§ 250-28 250-27.1 Termination of State of Water Supply Conservation; notice.
A State of Water Supply Conservation may be terminated by the Director or Deputy Director of Public Works of the Water Division upon a determination that the water supply shortage no longer exists. Public notification of the termination of a State of Water Supply Conservation shall be given in the same manner required by § 250-27 for notice of its imposition.
§ 250-29 250-28 State of Water Supply Emergency; compliance with MassDEP orders.
A. Upon notification to the public that a declaration of a State of Water Supply Emergency has been issued by the Department of Environmental Protection, MassDEP, no person shall violate any provision, restriction, requirement, or condition of any order approved or issued by the Department MassDEP intended to bring about an end to the state of emergency.
B. Notification of any provisions, restrictions, requirements or conditions imposed by the declaration of a State of Water Supply Emergency shall be published in a newspaper of general circulation within the City, or by such other means reasonably calculated to reach and inform all users of water of the State of Water Supply Emergency. Any restriction imposed under this section shall not be effective until such notification is provided, Emergency as soon as possible but no not later than 48 hours after the declaration of a State City receives notice of Water Supply Emergency. such declaration. The City may also notify the public using other means determined to be appropriate. Notification may also include e-mail, websites, public service announcements on local media or other such means.
§ 250-29.1 250-28.1 Termination of State of Water Supply Emergency; compliance with MassDEP orders.
Upon notification to the City that the declaration of a State of Water Supply Emergency has been terminated by the Department of Environmental Protection, MassDEP, the public will be notified of the termination in the same manner as is required by § 250-29 250-28 for notice of its imposition.
§ 250-30 250-29 Violations and penalties.
A. Any person violating this article ordinance shall be liable to the City in the amount listed below:
(1) First violation: warning.
(2) Second violation: $50.$100.
(3) Third and subsequent violations: $100 and may be subject to termination of water service.
(3) Third violation: $200.
(4) Fourth violation and subsequent violations: $300 and may be subject to termination of water service.
B. Fines shall inure to the City for such uses as the Director or Deputy Director of Public Works may direct. Each day of violation shall constitute a separate offense. Fines shall be recovered by indictment, or by complaint before the District Court, or by noncriminal disposition in accordance with MGL M.G.L. c. 40, § 21D. For purposes of noncriminal disposition, the enforcing person shall be any police officer of the City or the Director or Deputy Director of Public Works or their designee. If a State of Water Supply Emergency has been declared, the Water Division may, in accordance with MGL M.G.L. c. 40, § 41A, shut off the water at the meter or the curb stop.
§ 250-30.1 250-30 Severability.
The invalidity of any portion or provision of this article ordinance shall not invalidate any other portion or provision thereof.