water restrictions may face fines or jail time
Violators of state
water restrictions may face fines or jail time
Members of the Monmouth County Water Resources Association (MCWRA) appeared before the Board of Freeholders seeking assistance in expanding public understanding of the long-term drought that the county is now experiencing.
According to a press release from the county’s Department of Public Information, Harry Conover, the county’s emergency management coordinator and a member of the association, said his office has contacted every police, code enforcement and emergency management department in every town in the county, asking that they expand their enforcement of state water restrictions.
"We hate to have to issue a summons to violators, but the situation has become very serious," Conover said.
"We have no choice but to begin cracking down on people who waste water."
He said the fine upon conviction as a disorderly person is $1,000 and up to six months in jail for each violation.
Vincent Domidion, chairman of the MCWRA, said the county is in the midst of a grave drought that began in 1998.
"What is not readily understood is that this drought is anchored in declining stream flows.
"Long-term rainfall deficits reduce the recharge of groundwater that supports water levels in streams," he said.
"It is this stream flow that supports our reservoirs during dry weather. Stream flow in the Manasquan River has fallen to historic record low levels."
An order issued by Bradley M. Campbell, commissioner of the state Department of Environmental Protection, prohibits the use of water for established lawns, individual washing of cars, washing of impervious surfaces, such as driveways and streets, and the washing of buildings.
Because of the severity and length of the drought, water usage may be restricted for some time to come. According to Richard Famularo, manager of the Manasquan River Reservoir System, it is likely that the severe drought restrictions will remain in place until next spring.
He said that according to the U.S. Geological Survey, "The month of August was the driest month on record in the 70 years of recording such statistics."
Recent rains over the Labor Day weekend "did not put a dent in our reservoirs and ground water reserves," said Freeholder Thomas J. Powers.
He urged the public not to be lulled into a false sense of security because of the somewhat heavy rainfall.
He said long-range weather forecasts for the fall indicate a below-normal rainfall, which "does not bode well for our reservoir systems."
Freeholder Theodore J. Narozanick said he saw several businesses on Route 9 in Howell watering lawns in clear violation of the state order.
"We need to make businesses, as well as residents, aware of the seriousness of the situation here in Monmouth County," he said. "What is needed is greater public awareness and a spirit of cooperation in reporting violators to local enforcement agencies."