(A) Interruptions in water supply. The town reserves the right at any time to shut off the water in the distribution mains in case of accident or emergency, or for the purpose of making connections, extensions, improvements, alterations, repairs, change or for other proper business or utility reasons, and may restrict the use of water to reserve a sufficient supply in its reservoirs for public for service or other emergencies whenever the public welfare may so require in accordance with Commission Rule 25.2.
(B) Curtailment of service and/or usage.
(1) Notwithstanding any other provision in these rules and regulations, the town’s rate schedules, or any contract or agreement between the town and any customer, when, in the judgment of the town, sufficient supplies of water are not available to the town, for any reason, to meet all existing and reasonably anticipated demands for service or to preserve and replenish its storage in amounts sufficient to provide fire protection on its system, the town shall have the right to restrict, limit, curtail or interrupt water service to or water usage by any customer or customers in accordance with the provisions of this Commission Rule 25.2.
(2) During any period in which the town is restricting or curtailing water service pursuant to division (B)(1) above, the town shall not supply new service or additional service to any customer, except for residential premises occupied for which application for service has previously been made.
(3) Whenever feasible, prior to the application of this Commission Rule 25.2, the town shall use its best efforts to inform the public in general of the emergency nature of its water supply situation and request voluntary curtailment of water usage by all customers. If, in the judgment of the town, the voluntary curtailment of usage is not sufficient to protect the health and safety of its customers or to preserve and replenish its reservoir storage for fire protection, it shall proceed under the provisions of division (B)(4) below.
(4) In the application of this Rule, the town shall endeavor to maintain a supply of water to provide for the sanitary and health requirements of its residential and human needs customers (hospitals, medical centers, nursing homes and apartments) and its fire protection service.
(a) The town shall first order curtailment of usage by all customers for sprinkling, decorative fountains, swimming pools and other similar nonessential usage.
(b) Thereafter, the town shall curtail or limit on a pro-rata basis water usage to all customers whose average daily volume of water purchased during the preceding calendar year exceeded 100,000 gallons for any billing month during such period; provided, the town reserves the right to order temporary, limitation or interruption of water usage for any customer without regard to any priority of service when its judgment such temporary, limitation or interruption is necessary to forestall injury to life or property.
(c) If any customer fails to comply with any mandatory restriction, limitation or interruption of service imposed under this division (B)(4), the town may shut off service to such customer.
(5) Notice by the town to customers may be given by letter, statement or postcard deposited in the United States mail with postage prepaid or such notice may be given orally by any authorized agent of the town, either by person or by telephone. The notice shall be considered given when actually communicated in the case of oral notice and when deposited in the United States mail when notice is given by letter, statement or postcard.
(Ord. 2010-2, passed 6-7-2010)