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DEP Commissioner Bradley
M. Campbell Orders Water Interconnection Inspections
Water Restrictions Amended
To Ensure Adequate Supply
For Immediate Release: Friday, March
15, 2002 Contact: Elaine Makatura 609-292-9289
(02/14) Trenton, NJ-- In an effort to address
the emergent demands resulting from New Jersey's serious
water shortage, Department of Environmental Protection
(DEP) Commissioner Bradley M. Campbell today issued
revised water usage restrictions supplementing the original
mandates outlined on Monday.
"We continue to evaluate daily the
impacts of mandated water reductions on all segments of
the public, private, local and regulated communities,"
said Commissioner Campbell. "I'm asking all of our
communities to pull together. We need strong coordination
to get through this drought emergency," he added.
The order highlights the necessity to ensure
that the drought restrictions apply specifically to the
state's immediate needs, incorporate adequate safeguards
for futu re water supply concerns, fully protect the public
and sustain New Jersey's economy.
The order mandates the following water
usage directives:
Every water supplier must perform a complete
inventory of existing interconnections to determine the
capability of the water supply infrastructure. All public
systems serving 10,000 people or more will submit an interconnection
integrity report to the department.
Temporarily, the department will not issue
any new or modified water allocation permits or registrations.
If usage peaks above recent average levels, the department
must be given written notification.
Water releases from Lake Hopatcong will
be reduced to maximize water storage for future emergency
needs.
A newly constructed or installed swimming
pool (hot tub, spa, or jacuzzi) may be filled once using
water from the municipal water source as long as the local
water supplier approves it. A pool drained before March
11, 2002 can be refilled. A pool can be drained one time
only to make repairs for structural integrity and then refilled.
Topping of pools is permitted. Unnecessary discharges are
prohibited for purposes other than adequate filtration.
All open burning permits are suspended,
except for outdoor barbecues and religious ceremonies. Recreational
fire permits and other open burning permits will be restricted,
administered and coordinated through the New Jersey Forest
Fire Service.
Dennis Hart, the Drought Coordinator, has
been given the authority to implement and clarify drought
requirements.
"I urge everyone to think 'water conservation'
and to cut back on water usage," said Campbell. "One
or two days of rainfall is not enough to bring our waterways
up to normal levels."
With the exception of the above provisions,
the original restrictions will remain in effect.
For more information call the DEP drought
hotline at 1-800-448-7379 or access the web page at www.njdrought.org.
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