CHAPTER 11
UTILITIES
ARTICLE I. IN GENERAL
Sec. 11-1. - 11-19. Reserved,
ARTICLE II. WATER
Sec. 11-20. Permit required prior to water service connection.
The owner or contractor of any completely new construction, residential or business is required to obtain a permit from the Board of Selectmen and/or the Board of Health before water service shall be connected.
Sec. 11-21. Water Use Restriction Bylaw - Authority
This Bylaw is adopted by the Town of Groveland under its police powers to protect public health and welfare and its powers under M.G.L. c. 40 §21 et seq. and implements the Town’s authority to regulate water use pursuant to M.G.L. c. 41, §69B. This bylaw also implements the town’s authority under M.G.L. c. 40, §41A, conditioned upon a declaration of water supply emergency as determined by the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection.
Sec. 11-22. Purpose
The purpose of this bylaw 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 Town or by the Department of Environmental Protection.
Sec. 11-23. Definitions
Person shall mean any individual, corporation, trust, partnership or association, or other entity.
State of Water Supply Emergency shall mean a State of Water Supply Emergency declared by the
Department of Environmental Protection under M.G.L. c. 21G, §15-17.
State of Water Supply Conservation shall mean a State of Water Supply Conservation declared by the
Town pursuant to section 11-24 of this bylaw.
Water Users or Water Consumers shall mean all public and private users of the Town’s public water
system, irrespective of any person’s responsibility for billing purposes for water used at any particular
facility.
Sec. 11-24. Declaration of a State of Water Supply Conservation
The Town, through its Board of Water Commissioners may declare a State of Water Supply Conservation upon a determination by a majority vote of the Board that a shortage of water exists and conservation measures are appropriate to ensure an adequate supply of water to all water consumers. Public notice of a State of Water Conservation shall be given under section 11-26 of this bylaw before it may be enforced.
Sec. 11-25. Restricted Water Uses
A declaration of a State of Water Supply Conservation shall include one or more of the following restrictions, conditions, or requirements to protect the water supply. The applicable restrictions, conditions, or requirements shall be included in the public notice required under section 11-26 of this bylaw.
a) Odd/Even Day Outdoor Watering. Outdoor watering by water users with odd numbered addresses is restricted to odd numbered days. Outdoor watering by water users with even numbered addresses is restricted to even numbered days.
b) Alternate Day Outdoor Watering. Outdoor watering by all water users is restricted to alternate
days of the week. No outdoor watering on the other days as specified in the declaration of a State
of Water Supply Conservation and the public notice.
c) Outdoor Watering Ban. Outdoor watering is prohibited.
d) Outdoor Watering Hours. Outdoor watering is permitted only during daily periods of low
demand, to be specified in the declaration of a State of Water Supply Conservation and the public
notice thereof.
e) Filling Swimming Pools. Filling of swimming pools is restricted or prohibited.
f) Automatic Sprinkler Use. The use of automatic sprinkler systems is restricted or prohibited.
Sec. 11-26. Public Notification of a State of Water Supply Conservation: Notification of DEP
Notification of any provision, restriction, requirement or condition imposed by the Town of Groveland as part of a State of Water Supply Conservation shall be published in a newspaper of general circulation within the Town, 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 Sec. 11-25 of this bylaw shall not be effective until such notification is provided. Notification of the State of Water Supply Conservation shall also be simultaneously provided to the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection.
Sec. 11-27. Termination of a State of Water Supply Conservation: Notice
A State of Water Supply Conservation may be terminated by a majority vote of the Board of Water Commissioners, 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 in section 11-26 of this bylaw.
Sec. 11-28. State of Water Supply Emergency: Compliance with DEP Orders
Upon Notification to the public that a State of Water Supply Emergency has been issued by the Department of Environmental Protection, no person shall violate any provision, restriction, requirement or condition of any order approved or issued by the Department of Environmental Protection intended to bring about an end to the State of Emergency.
Sec. 11-29. Penalties
Any person, tenant, trustee or agent with control of water use, violating this bylaw shall have a copy of the notice of the declared State of Water Supply Conservation or State of Water Supply Emergency, including any provisions, restrictions, requirements or conditions and the penalties pertaining to such violation, personally delivered to the offending address by Water Department personnel. Any person continuing to violate this bylaw shall be notified by registered letter that this being their second violation, they are liable to the Town of Groveland in the amount of $50.00 for this violation. Under a declared State of Water Supply Conservation a $50.00 fine shall be assessed for the third and each subsequent day a violation occurs. Under a declared State of Water Supply
Emergency the third violation shall result in the termination of water service. There will be a $50.00 fee payable to the Water Department prior to the restoration of water service. Fines shall be recovered by indictment, or on complaint before the District Court, or by non-criminal disposition in accordance with section 21D of chapter 40 of the Massachusetts General Laws. Each day that a violation exists shall constitute a separate offense.
Sec. 11-30. Severability
The invalidity of any portion or provision of this bylaw shall not invalidate any other portion or provision there.
Adopted May 21, 2001.
Sec. 11-31. - 11-50. Reserved.
ARTICLE III. SEWERS
Sec. 11-51. Installation, maintenance and use of sanitary sewers.
The "Rules Regulating the Use of Public and Private Sewers and Drains, the Installation and Connection of Building Sewers, and the Discharge of Waters and Wastes into the Public Sewer System(s); and Providing Penalties for Violations thereof: in the Town of Groveland, County of Essex, Commonwealth of Massachusetts," as promulgated by the Board of Selectmen and passed and adopted at the Town Meeting of April 15, 1976, are set forth in Appendix E of this volume.
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