Water restrictions in Scranton, PA β also called the watering schedule, outdoor irrigation rules, or drought ordinance β set which days and hours you can run sprinklers or irrigation.
Scranton residents are served by Pennsylvania American Water, the regulated investor-owned utility under the jurisdiction of the Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission. The City of Scranton does not impose year-round watering days. Restrictions are triggered by Pennsylvania American Water's PUC-approved drought contingency plan or by a Governor-declared drought emergency under the Emergency Management Services Code (35 Pa.C.S.) implemented through 4 Pa. Code Chapter 119 (Prohibition of Nonessential Water Uses) and Chapter 118 (Reductions of Major Water Use). The PA DEP Drought Task Force coordinates the four-stage advisory framework: Normal, Drought Watch, Drought Warning, Drought Emergency.
Scranton's drinking water is supplied by Pennsylvania American Water (https://www.amwater.com/paaw/), a regulated investor-owned utility operating in Scranton since the acquisition of the former Pennsylvania Gas and Water Company assets, and subject to Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission oversight under 66 Pa.C.S. The City Code does not impose year-round odd/even or fixed-day watering. Two state-law layers can trigger mandatory restrictions. First, the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection (DEP), through its Drought Task Force, issues four-stage drought declarations (Normal, Drought Watch, Drought Warning, Drought Emergency) under the Emergency Management Services Code (35 Pa.C.S.), advisory in the first two stages and mandatory at Emergency. Second, when the Governor declares a drought emergency, 4 Pa. Code Chapter 119 (Prohibition of Nonessential Water Uses in a Commonwealth Drought Emergency Area) automatically takes effect within the declared area: it prohibits watering of lawns, ornamental plants, trees, and shrubs except by hand-held hose or container; washing of paved surfaces; ornamental fountains; and other listed nonessential uses. 4 Pa. Code Chapter 118 (Reductions of Major Water Use in a Commonwealth Basin Drought Emergency Area) requires public water systems and major commercial/industrial users to implement reduction plans. Pennsylvania American Water has its own PUC-approved drought contingency plan and historically issues voluntary conservation notices during a DEP Drought Watch, asking customers to reduce nonessential use by 10-15%. The Susquehanna River Basin Commission (SRBC), with jurisdiction over consumptive water use in the Susquehanna watershed (which includes the Lackawanna River feeding Scranton's regional supply), can also issue its own drought-driven curtailment orders under the Susquehanna River Basin Compact. Lackawanna County does not impose separate mandatory restrictions; the operative framework is utility plus state.
Violation of a Governor-declared drought emergency under 4 Pa. Code Chapter 119 is a summary offense under 35 Pa.C.S. Β§ 7501 et seq., punishable by a fine of up to $300 and/or up to 90 days' imprisonment, with each day a separate offense. Pennsylvania American Water can suspend or terminate service to nonresidential customers violating mandatory restrictions, subject to PUC Chapter 56 (52 Pa. Code Ch. 56) due-process protections for residential customers. Susquehanna River Basin Commission violations carry civil penalties up to $25,000 per violation per day under SRBC enforcement rules. Essential uses (firefighting, public health, construction-site dust control consistent with state guidance) typically remain exempt.
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