East Brunswick, NJ Water Use Rules: Leak Reporting Duty (2026)

Section 218-12 of the Code of the Township of East Brunswick, titled Required measures to prevent waste, splits the leak duty between owners and occupants. Under subsection A, every owner of buildings and premises connected with the municipal water supply must keep the water service pipes, fixtures and connections in good order and repair so that no water is wasted, and must immediately make the repairs needed to stop waste. The Water chapter defines a service pipe as the pipe extending from the curb stop into privately owned property, so the private side of the connection is the owner's to maintain.

Subsection B puts a reporting duty on every lessee, tenant and occupant. Each must immediately notify two parties, the owner or the owner's agent and the municipality, of any defective water service pipes, fixtures and connections causing waste of water. Telling the landlord alone does not satisfy the text. Subsection C then triggers the owner's duty: on receiving notice of waste due to defective pipes, fixtures or connections, the owner of any premises served by the municipal water supply must immediately make all necessary repairs.

Subsection D gives the Township a fallback. When an owner fails or refuses to make repairs after proper notice as defined in the Administrative Procedures Manual, the Township can make the repairs itself and charge the cost to the owner in the same manner as other water charges. Chapter 218 also carries a section titled Payment of charges; charges not paid become a lien, which is the route unpaid water charges follow.

Related rules sit in the same chapter. Under § 218-10F, the owner is responsible for the meter and its protection from damage, freezing and hot water, and must immediately notify the Utility in case of damage to the meter or its stoppage or improper working. Subsection E of § 218-12 adds an odd-even rule: between May 1 and September 15, lawn watering and pool filling follow the parity of the house number. During a declared water emergency under § 218-11, regulations can prevent waste for the period of the emergency.