Township to enforce
drought restrictions
Limitations will continue until further notice
FARRAH MAFFAI Billy Crocker, played by Santino Certo, Reno Sweeney, played by Kellie McCaffrey, and another passenger take a swing around the deck during the “Bon Voyage” scene of North Brunswick High School’s production of Anything Goes.
NORTH BRUNSWICK — The township is urging residents to follow the state drought regulations despite recent rain showers.
"It is essential that our residents take these regulations seriously and adhere to guidelines determined by the state," Spaulding said. "Doing so helps prevent a more serious problem."
Due to the severity of continuing drought conditions, which are occurring in the entire northeastern part of the country, all New Jersey residents and visitors, businesses and government agencies must fully comply in this cooperative effort. State agencies and departments are being asked to lead the way by identifying and implementing conservation measures above and beyond what is being asked of the public to reduce water consumption, according to a press release issued by the state.
On March 4, Gov. James E. McGreevey signed an executive order declaring a water emergency in the state.
"Water is a shared blessing and a shared resource, but it is also a shared responsibility," McGreevey said, according to the press release.
"New Jersey has suffered from unusually dry weather conditions since 1998," McGreevey said. "During the past 12 months, precipitation has been among the lowest on record."
New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection Commissioner Bradley M. Campbell said that this is the worst drought in modern New Jersey history.
"We’ve had the driest six-month period in New Jersey since 1895," said Campbell in a press release. "All of us must do our part to eliminate water waste and reduce our water use. The drought restrictions I established are a necessary step to sustain the water resources we currently have, to prepare for a continued lack of rain, and to protect New Jersey’s economic health."
Township police will be keeping a close eye on the community to make sure that they follow the regulations, according to council President Francis "Mack" Womack.
"Police are going to be alerted to the regulations," Womack said. "They will keep a close eye to keep certain that nobody is engaging in a watering act contrary to regulations. If there is a violation, on the first offense the officer will stop and educate the person. Any repeat offenses will result in a summons similar to a traffic offense."
The recent rainstorms in the area do not change the drought situation, according to Womack.
"It does not change until the governor says so," said Womack. "This was a state emergency. Once we received all of the official information from the state on how we should follow these regulations, we were determined to enforce them."
In North Brunswick there are some general restrictions. Residents may only water their lawn every other day. If a resident’s house number ends in an even number, they may water on even-numbered days. If the house ends in an odd number, they may water only on odd-numbered days. Special restrictions apply to lawns with new seed or sod.
Swimming pools may be topped off as necessary to make filtration systems work. If a pool was drained prior to March 11, it may be refilled once, but if a resident needs to use municipal water to fill the pool, prior approval from the local municipal water purveyor must be obtained. New pools may be filled once upon completion of construction.
Residents may not wash their cars at home. Cars may only be washed at commercial car washes.