State scales back water-use controls

Restrictions on lawn watering and car washing are reduced, but not eliminated.

By: David Campbell
   With steady rainfall this month and the onset of cooler weather, the state Department of Environmental Protection has decided to lift some drought restrictions, but warned that continued water conservation still is needed.
   DEP Commissioner Bradley Campbell said Thursday that many of the restrictions put in place in August will remain in effect.
   But outdoor lawn watering will be allowed every other day on an odd-even basis statewide, to be determined by street number. For example, watering may occur on odd-numbered days at residences with odd-numbered street addresses.
   "Given the recent rainfall and cooler temperatures, we are easing restrictions to help homeowners and to reduce the economic impacts of the drought," Commissioner Campbell said. "By no means should this action mislead people to think that the drought emergency is over.
   "Instead, we must remain prudent," the commissioner continued. "Water conservation continues to be of the utmost importance to ensure sufficient water supplies are available throughout the upcoming months."
   In March, Gov. James E. McGreevey issued an executive order declaring a statewide water emergency, and shortly afterward the DEP issued a nine-page administrative order imposing mandatory water restrictions.
   This August, Commissioner Campbell announced a statewide ban on outdoor water use including lawn watering and washing of vehicles at residences. Under the ban, limited outdoor water use was permitted for watering of trees, plant beds and newly laid sod in new construction.
   Washing vehicles is allowed now, but only on Saturdays and Sundays, and only with a non-leaking hose affixed with an automatic turnoff nozzle.
   However, several restrictions remain in place. For example, golf courses are allowed to use only 80 percent of their monthly water allocation.
   The serving of water in restaurants, clubs or eating establishments is prohibited, unless specifically requested by the patron.
   And watering of newly installed or repaired lawns is still permitted on any day, while watering of trees, shrubs and vegetable and flower gardens is permitted every other day on an "odd-even" basis.
   But daily watering following treatment of vegetation with a fertilizer, pesticide or herbicide is allowed for two days only, starting on the date of application.
   According to the DEP, October rainfall has partially alleviated the severity of the drought emergency.
   "We must remember that just as quickly as water levels rise with rain, they will drop immediately without it," the DEP commissioner said.
   Central Jersey has seen about 10 inches of rainfall since the start of September, equal to the total rainfall between September 2001 and February 2002, State Climatologist David Robinson said Monday.
   Recent rainfall is about 2 inches over the average for September and October, decreasing the overall rainfall deficit for the last 12 months from 12 to 10 inches, Mr. Robinson said.
   In total, 37 of the last 52 months have seen below-average rains. But if rainfall continues at average or slightly above-average levels, and groundwater levels rebound, the drought emergency could be lifted around January or February, the climatologist said.
   "The news is good," Mr. Robinson said. "Now we just wait and see whether this wet pattern remains. If so, I would imagine at some point you would see the drought emergency being lifted."