Manchester, CT Landscaping Rules: Water Restrictions (2026)

Town of Manchester Code of Ordinances § 315-9 lets the Water Department ask the General Manager to act once available supply drops toward levels needed under § 315-8's Emergency Contingency Plan. Under § 315-10, the General Manager may first impose voluntary conservation restrictions. If those prove insufficient, the General Manager can declare a water supply emergency and, with Board of Directors approval, impose mandatory restrictions keyed to three phases of remaining storage capacity. Phase I (60% capacity) prohibits nonessential outdoor water uses: lawn and garden watering, sprinkler use for recreation facilities, swimming pool filling, and washing of motor vehicles or the exterior of houses or equipment.

Phase II (40% capacity) adds a total outdoor use ban plus requested indoor cuts and major-user reductions, and Phase III (30% capacity) can extend to rationing. Section 315-11 requires at least three days' newspaper notice before restrictions take effect, though the General Manager may impose them immediately in an extreme emergency and publish notice within three days after. Section 315-13 exempts firefighting and civil defense uses and lets a user apply in writing to the Water and Sewer Department Administrator for a health, sanitation or livelihood-based waiver, with the Director of Health or Administrator required to decide within three days and a right to appeal a denial to the General Manager. Section 315-16 covers termination of the emergency once the Water Department determines restrictions are no longer needed.