Union Township City Zoning Code
§ 30-30.15
Net Water Availability.
[Added 12-17-2025 by Ord. No. 2025-9]
a.
Water Conservation Requirements. All development proposals shall incorporate, as applicable, the following water conservation measures to promote sound resource use, reduce supply deficits, and reduce the need for additional utility infrastructure:
1.
No irrigation systems should be utilized. Where required, they must provide automatic controls based on rain sensors (or soil moisture) for all new and replacement lawn irrigation systems, as required by the electrical subcode at N.J.A.C. 5:23-3.16;
2.
Design all non-potable irrigation water uses to ensure that only the necessary amounts of water are used to achieve optimum plant growth, to the maximum extent practicable;
3.
Provide for internal recycling or beneficial reuse of reclaimed water in new commercial development projects, to the maximum extent practicable;
4.
Rely on stormwater for irrigation purposes to the maximum extent practicable, including but not limited to methods recommended by the U.S. Green Building Council through its Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) program;
5.
Reduce water losses to the maximum extent practicable, in the rehabilitation of on-site water supply utility infrastructure, through such means as application of American Water Works Association/International Water Association water loss analysis methods (AWWA Manual M-36 or most recent version).
b.
The following shall apply for any development application proposing a new or increased use of potable or non-potable water averaging 6,000 gallons per day or more, derived from: a) any groundwater source in a Highlands Area HUC14 subwatershed, whether through a public community or non-community water supply system well, a non-public well, or an individual private well; or b) any surface water source in a Highlands Area HUC14 subwatershed that is not associated with a safe yield determined by the NJDEP through a water allocation permit.
1.
Where a Highlands Council-approved Water Use and Conservation Management Plan has been adopted, any development application involving the use of water derived from a subwatershed(s) with a deficit net water availability as shown in the Exhibit 5 shall be regulated fully in accordance with the requirements of such Plan.
2.
Absence of Water Use and Conservation Management Plan: No application shall be deemed complete or considered for review by the applicable Board until or unless the Highlands Council has determined that the proposed water use will not exceed the remaining Net Water Availability for the source HUC14 subwatershed(s).
