August 14, 2013 THE VILLADOM TIMES II • Page 3 Area Ridgewood Water’s shut-off deleted in three towns by John Koster Glen Rock, Midland Park, and Wyckoff -- three of the four towns served by the Ridgewood Water Company - - have deleted the options of shutting off water service to customers for up to 90 days for violating watering bans. The three municipalities have adopted, or are in the pro- cess of adopting, watering regulations on a town-by-town basis. Wyckoff officials, who introduced the draft of the new watering ordinance at the Aug. 6 township committee meeting, noted that Wyckoff’s version does not include the clause in the original Ridgewood version that threat- ened a possible shut-off to customers who ignore watering regulations. Wyckoff also deleted jail penalties. A require- ment for a $50 fine for violations (payable to the Viola- tions Bureau) was inserted instead in the Wyckoff version. Midland Park’s ordinance, adopted on July 25, imposes a maximum fine of $100 or/and 15 days of imprisonment. Glen Rock has inserted a $50 fine as opposed to threat- ening a water shut-off for violators. The jail option has also been removed from that borough’s ordinance. “Midland Park didn’t want to get involved with the water shut off aspect of enforcing the water restrictions. It is up to Ridgewood Water to file charges rather than our police department,” explained Midland Park Mayor Pat- rick “Bud” O’Hagan. Additionally, since Glen Rock, Wyckoff, and Midland Park have taken Ridgewood to court for allegedly using Glen Rock, Midland Park, and Wyckoff water service fees to pay Ridgewood salaries not related to water services, the officials were unwilling to threaten their own residents with a water shut-off -- which was deemed unlikely in any case due to safety and sanitary reasons. The ordinance Wyckoff introduced last week provides for a $50 fine and eliminates the Ridgewood language “not to exceed $500 or imprisonment for a term not to exceed 90 days, or both. Upon further violations, the Depart- ment of Water Supply shall have the right and is hereby empowered to cut off the supply of water to the premises and meter upon and from which such violation shall have taken place for such a period or periods of time as shall be deemed necessary to secure compliance with all the terms of this chapter.” The ordinance as adopted in Midland Park and intro- duced in Wyckoff provides for four phases of user restric- tion, and this language was retained as written. Stage I, Moderate, provides for mandatory restriction of irrigation to Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays at properties with odd-numbered addresses and Wednes- days, Fridays, and Sundays at properties with even-num- bered addresses. Irrigation using a hand-held hose shall be allowed at any time. No irrigation shall be allowed on Mondays except for the use of a hand-held hose. Stage I regulations shall be effective each year begin- ning June 1 and continuing through Sept. 15. Stage II, Severe, provides for mandatory restriction of irrigation to Tuesdays and Saturdays at properties with odd-numbered addresses and Wednesdays and Sundays at properties with even-numbered addresses. No irrigation shall be allowed Mondays, Thursdays, or Fridays except for the use of a hand-held hose. Irrigation using a hand- held hose shall be allowed ay any time. Stage III, Pending/Critical provides for mandatory restriction of irrigation to the use of a hand-held hose on Tuesdays and Saturdays at properties with odd-numbered addresses and Wednesdays and Sundays at even-num- bered addresses. No irrigation of any kind shall be allowed on Mondays, Thursdays, and Fridays. Stage IV, Critical, prohibits irrigation at any time. Exceptions for irrigation using a hand-held hose may be allowed under conditions prescribed by the Village Man- ager of Ridgewood. The Village Manager of Ridgewood is also empowered to declare elevated levels of restrictions based on the water supply and weather conditions. “The water restriction system is balanced and reason- able in allowing water use during various drought condi- tions without stopping all watering. The one day a week no usage allows the wells to recharge,” commented O’Hagan, noting that there had been complaints about the fairness of the new regulations because July and August have addi- tional odd numbered days. Wyckoff led the charge to take Ridgewood to court, later joined by Glen Rock and Midland Park, when an examination of the Ridgewood Water Company’s finances reportedly showed that water fees collected in other towns were being used to pay the salaries of Ridgewood police, firefighters, and other Ridgewood officials not employed by the water company. Neither side will comment on the details of the case since litigation at the Superior Court level is still in progress, but the practice was halted by Ridgewood Village Manager Ken Gabbert when he learned of it, though Ridgewood officials, including Gab- bert, deny any illegality.