Lakewood, NJ Water Use Rules: Recycled Water Rules (2026)
Key Facts
- Governing section
- Township Code § 16-6.6a
- Exempt sources
- Rainwater harvesting, gray water, reclaimed water
- Condition
- Approved NJPDES permit issued through NJDEP
- Without a permit
- Standard odd-even watering rules apply
- Trigger
- Only active during a declared water emergency
Summary
Reclaimed and gray water are carved out of Lakewood Township's outdoor watering restrictions, but Code § 16-6.6a only lifts the odd-even schedule for water that already carries an approved NJPDES permit through the state DEP. Untreated gray water without that state permit gets no relief from the Township's emergency watering rules.
Outdoor water use from rain water harvesting, gray water, or reclaimed water are exempt from the provisions of the section. Use of gray or reclaimed water must have an approved NJPDES permit issued through the NJDEP.
Full Breakdown
6, part of the Outdoor Landscape Water Conservation ordinance (Ord. No. 2017-25), lists water uses that fall outside the odd-even day and hour restrictions imposed once the Mayor declares a water emergency. Subsection a covers recycled supply directly: 'Outdoor water use from rain water harvesting, gray water, or reclaimed water are exempt from the provisions of the section. 2 restrictions govern the property like any other water user. 6e. Lakewood's general code does not otherwise regulate reclaimed-water infrastructure, hookups, or reuse permitting; the NJPDES permit itself, issued by the state, is the operative approval, not a Township office.
Violations & Fines
Using gray or reclaimed water without the required NJPDES permit strips the § 16-6.6a exemption, exposing the property to the same enforcement path as any other watering-schedule violation: a written warning on the first offense under § 16-6.4, and fines under the Municipal Code's general penalty provisions for repeat violations under § 16-6.5.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does Lakewood require a separate Township permit for reclaimed water?
Can I use untreated gray water from my washing machine on my lawn during a water emergency?
Are golf courses and farms also exempt from the odd-even schedule?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Lakewood
Compare Lakewood to another location·View the New Jersey water use rules overview
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