Livingston Council Ponders Lawn Watering Law, Makes Changes

Livingston, NJ – Livingston residents may have gotten one more day a week to water their lawns.

During their April 25 meeting, the Livingston Town Council discussed changes to a proposed municipal law that sought to limit residents to a two-day-per-week lawn watering limit.

Chief among the revisions was a change to a three-day limit. Livingston residents with even-numbered properties would be able to water their lawns on Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday.

Odd-numbered property owners would be permitted to water on Wednesday, Friday and Sunday.

The proposed law wouldn’t apply to watering vegetable gardens, watering trees and bushes, washing decorative fountains or washing cars.

Residents would be permitted to water their lawns between 6 p.m. and 9 a.m., a change from the previously proposed hours of 6 to 9 a.m. and 6 to 9 p.m.

Violators would be subject to a maximum fine of $2,000.

Other components of the proposed law include:

• The watering of any single area shall not exceed 30 minutes per day
• All newly-installed automatic irrigation systems in the township are to be installed with a “smart” controller that is Water Sense-certified and at a minimum include a rain sensor
• Watering of any hard surfaces such as sidewalks, walkways, driveways or parking areas is prohibited unless flushing is needed to “protect health and safety”
• Outdoor watering during periods of rain is prohibited

Exemptions to the law would include:

• Outdoor water use from rainwater harvesting via rain barrels, grey water, or reclaimed water
• Watering of athletic fields and golf courses

There will be a public hearing on the proposed law on May 23 at Livingston Town Hall, 357 South Livingston Avenue.

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