Smooth Rock Falls, Ontario
· No. 2025-70
· adopted 2025-10-20
· summary & facts
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THE CORPORATION OF THE TOWN OF SMOOTH ROCK FALLS
Being a by-taw to Regutate the Time,
Water Use for Properties Serviced by
Manner, and Conditions of MunicipaI
the Town of Smooth Rock Fatts Water
System
wHEREASthecorporationoftheTownofsmoothRockFattsisresponsibtefor
the operation, maintenance, and management of the municipal drinking water
syste m;
ANDWHEREASSectionl0(2),paragraphs6andT,ottheMunicipalAct'2001'as
amended, authorizes municipalities to pass by-taws respecting the heatth'
safety, and wett-being of persons, and services provided by the municipatity'
inctuding the regulation of water usage;
ANDwHEREASSection434.loftheMunicipalAct,2ool,andontarioRegu[ation
333/07, as amended, authorizes municipatities to estabtish a system of
administrative penatties as an alternative to prosecution for certain by-taw
contraventions;
AND WHEREAS the councit of the corporation of the Town of smooth Rock Fatts
has adopted a system of administrative penatties through which designated by-
Laws, including those retated to water use, are enforced;
AND WHEREAS it is deemed necessary and in the pubtic interest to regulate the
time, manner, and nature of the use of water supptied by the municipal water
system, in order to promote conservation, protect municipal infrastructure,
ensure equitabte access, and ensure efficient water service delivery to a[[
serviced properties.
NOW THEREFORE Councit of the Corporation of the Town of Smooth Rock Fatts
enacts as fotlows:
1.0 Short Titte
2.0 Definitions
In this By-taw:
2.1
"Administrative Penatty" refers to a financiaI penalty imposed under
the Town's Administrative Monetary Penatty System (AMPS) as an
atternative to prosecution under the ProvinciaI Offences Act'
2.2
"Council" shatt mean the MunicipaI CounciI of the Town of Smooth
Rock Fatts.
2.3
"Outdoor Water Use" means the use of municipatty supptied water
for purposes inctuding, but not timited to, lawn or garden watering,
poot fitting, and surface cteaning.
"Owner" shatl mean the registered owner of a property or any person
authorized to act on their behatf.
"serviced Property" means any property to which drinking water is
supptied by the municipa[ water system operated by the Town.
BY-LAW # 2025-70
1.1 This By-law may be cited as the "\4later Use By-Law".
2.5
2.6
'Town' shatl mean The Corporation of the Town of Smooth Rock
Fatts.
3.0 Rutes of lnterpretation
3.01 lnterpretation of Terms
3.01 .1 Where terms are not specificatty defined in this By-taw, the
definitions set out in the Municipal Act, 2001 ,lhe PubLic
Utitities Act, and any other appticabte provincia[ [egislation
shatt appty.
3.01 .2 ln the event of a conftict between definitions, the context and
intent of this By-Law shatl govern.
3.O2 Grammar and Style
3.02.2 Words expressed in the mascu[ine gender sha[[ include the
feminine and non-binary genders.
3.02.3 The singular sha[[ inctude the ptura[, and the pturatsha[[
inctude the singular, as the context requires.
3.02.4 Headings and subheadings are included in this By-taw for
reference purposes only and shatl not affect the interpretation
of any provision.
5.0 Offences
No person sha[[ engage in any of the following actions:
5.01 Prohibited Water Uses
5.01.1 Water, sprinkte, or permit the watering or sprinkting of any
[awn, garden, tree, shrub, or other outdoor vegetation using a
hose, pipe, or simitar device, except in accordance with this
By-law or during permitted times and conditions set out in
Sections 5.0 and 6.0.
5.01.2 No tenant, occupant, owner, or other person receiving
municipaI water service sha[[ use, waste, or redistribute water
in a manner that is improper, excessive, or unauthorized.
Without the prior written authorization of the Town, no person
shatt:
a) Lend, se[t, give, or otherwise transfer municipatty
supptied water to any other individuat, business, or
property;
b) Permit municipalty supptied water to be transported,
hauted, or removed from the premises to which it is
supptied;
c) Use municipatty supptied water for the benefit of any
person or property other than the property for which the
service is authorized.
5.01 .3 Water or permit the watering of any [awn, garden, tree, shrub,
or other vegetation during a period when outdoor water use
3.02.1 Words expressed in the present tense shat[ include the future
tense.
has been restricted or prohibited by the Town under Section
7.0, except where exemptions app[y.
5.01 .4 Use or permit the use of municipaI water through a hose, pipe,
or simitar apparatus for any outdoor purpose during dec[ared
water suppty emergencies, drought conditions, or when the
Town has imposed emergency water restrictions under this By-
Iaw.
5.O2 Tampering, lnterference, and Unauthorized Access
5.02.1 Wittfutty hinder, obstruct, or interfere with, or cause or permit
the hindrance or interference of, any officer, contractor, or
emptoyee of the Town acting under authority of this By-taw or
performing work retated to the municipaI water system.
5.02.2 Wittfutty atlow water to be discharged or reteased in a wastefut,
negtigent, or unreasonabte manner such that it ftows onto
adjacent properties, pubtic rights-of-way, or causes damage or
u nsafe conditions.
5.02.3 Tamper with, atter, or damage any municipal water meter,
appurtenance, or service pipe in a way that reduces or
misrepresents water usage or interferes with accurate
metering.
5.02.4 lnstatl, connect, or attempt to connect any private water
service or piping to the Town's waterworks system without
prior written authorization from the Town, or otherwise obtain
or use water without legaI entittement.
6.0 Water Suppty Regutations
6.01 ln order to promote water conseryation and ensure the continuous
and equitable suppty of municipalty treated water, the use of
municipatwater for outdoor purposes by means of a hose, sprinkter,
or other attachment is subject to restrictions between May 15 and
September 15 of each year.
6.01.1 Default Level
Untess otherwise dectared by the CAO under Section 6.01 .5,
outdoor water use shatl be subject to Leve[ 1 restrictions.
6.01.2 Levels of Restriction
The level of outdoor water use restriction in effect may be
increased from Level 1 to Level 2, 3, or 4 as determined by the
CAO. ln making such determination, Councit or the CAO may
consider factors inctuding but not [imited to:
.
Forecasted or actuaI drought conditions;
. System capacity and demand tevels;
.
Emergency events affecting water quality or suppty;
o Provinciat orders, advisories, or conservation
directives.
Notice of the Level in effect shatt be provided to residents by
means of pub[ic posting, the municipaI website, sociaI media,
or other methods reasonabty catcutated to give notice.
6.01 .3 Levet 1: Careful Use
Watering is permitted on[y between 6:00 a.m. to 10:00
a.m. and 6:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m. daity.
Flowerbeds and vegetab[e gardens may be watered by
hand at any time using a watering can or a hose
equipped with a nozzle that has a trigger shut-off.
Sprinklers and water toys, inctudlng chitdren's pools,
may be used for recreationaI purposes by chitdren,
provided chitdren are present during use.
6.01.4 Levet 2: Moderate Restrictions
. Atternate day watering schedutes appty (even-
numbered addresses may water on even-numbered
ca[endar days, odd-numbered addresses on odd-
numbered catendar days).
. Prohibition of no n-essentia I wate r uses, such as
washing driveways and sidewaLks.
. Residents are encouraged to use rainwater harvesting
for gardens, trees, and other outdoor vegetation.
6.01 .5 Levet 3: Prohibited Outdoor Use
. Subject to the exemptions set out in Section 7.0 of this
By-taw, outdoor use of potabte water is prohibited.
. Restrictions appty to fitting swimming pools and
washing vehictes.
6.01.6 Levet 4: Emergency Restrictions
.
FuLt prohibition on no n-esse ntia I water use.
.
Use of water for firef ighting, f ire training, or emergency
services is exempt from a[[ restrictions.
7.O Exceptions
7.O1 Notwithstanding the restrictions set out in Section 6.0, outdoor
watering shatt be permitted under the fottowing circumstances:
7.01 .1 The watering of newly planted sod, seed, ornamentaI shrubs,
trees, or garden beds during instattation and for a period of 24
hours fo[[owing the completion of instaltation.
7.01 .2 The watering of lawns or [andscaped areas that have been
treated with pesticide, herbicide, or fertitizer, where water is
required to activate or absorb the treatment, for a period of 24
hours fottowing apptication.
7.01 .3 The watering of newly taid sod on any property, for a period of
up to two (2) weeks fottowing initiat instatlation.
7 .O1 .4 The use of water for the instaltation or repair of residential
swimming poots or pool [iners, where water is required to
complete the instatlation or ensure structuraI stability.
7.01 .5 Use of water f or firefighting, f ire training, or emergency
services is exempt from at[ restrictions.
8.0 AdditionatRestrictions
8.01 Authority to lmpose AdditionaI Measures
ln the event of drought conditions, emergency situations, or a
signiflcant disruption to the municipaI water suppty, Councit, by
resolution, or the Chief Administrative Officer (CAO), if immediate
a
a
action is required, may impose additiona[ temporary water use
restrictions beyond those set out in this By-taw.
8.O2 Scope of Temporary Restrictions
Any such restrictions shatt be enforceabte u nder the authority of this
By-taw and may inctude futt prohibitions on non-essentiaI water use
or designated watering schedutes.
9.0 Conftict with Other Legistation
9.01 ln the event of a conftict between the provisions of this By-law and the
provisions of any appticabte provinciaI or federal legistation, inctuding
the Municipal Act, 2OO1 ,the provisions of the higher authority sha[[
prevailto the extent of the conflict.
10.0 Validity and Severabitity
10.01 lf any section, subsection, clause, paragraph, or provision of this By-
law is dectared invatid, unenforceabte, or beyond the authority of
Council by a court of competent jurisdiction, such provision shat[ be
deemed severabte and shatl not affect the va[idity or enforceabitity of
the remainder of the By-taw.
10.02 Att remaining provisions sha[[ continue in fu[[ force and effect and
shatt be interpreted as if the invatidated provision had never been
inctuded.
10.03 Any reference in this By-law to a statute or regulation of the Province
of Ontario shatt be deemed to include aLt appticabte amendments, re-
enactments, and successor legis[ation.
11.0 Penalties
11.01 Any person who contravenes any provision of this By-taw is subject to
an administrative penatty in accordance with Schedute '.A,, of this By-
law and the Town's AMPS By-taw, as amended.
1 1.02 Each day a contravention continues shatt be deemed to constitute a
separate distinct offence.
11.03 Repeated or continued contraventions by the same person may resutt
in escalating penatties in accordance with the Town's AMPS
enforcement f ra mework.
1 1 .04 Administrative penatties issued under this By-taw are not subject to
prosecution underthe Provincial Offences Act, and disputes or
reviews of such penalties must be submitted through the screening
and hearing process estabtished under the Town's AMpS By-taw.
12.0 Enforcement
12.01 This By-taw shatl be enforced through the Town's Administrative
Monetary Penatty System (AMPS), by the Pubtic Works Coordinator or
any other person designated by CounciI for this purpose.
12.02 Fot {eater certainty, this By-Law is not enforced through the
Provinciat Offences Act and is not subject to prosecution in ProvinciaI
Court, unless otherwise provided by taw.
13.0 Administrative Penatty Schedute
13.01 Schedute "A" attached hereto forms an integraI part of this By-taw.
14.0 Effective Date
14.01 This By-taw shatl come into force and take effect on the date of its
f inaI passage.
15.0 Repeat of Previous By-Laws
15.01 That By-taw No. 1996-18 is hereby repeated.
READ a first and second time this 6'h day of October, 2025.
MAYOR
Patrick Roberts
MUNICIPAL CLERK
Nathatie Vachon
READ a third time, signed and the Seat of the Corporation affixed thereto and
finatty passed this 20'h day October 2025.
MAYOR
Patrick Roberts
MUNICIPAL CLERK
Natha[ie Vachon
tlr>r )
L//t
\
Section
Description of Offence
Penatty
Amount
Tier 1
Penatty
Amount
Tier 2
Penatty
Amount
Tier 3
5.01.3
Watering during a period of temporary ban or
restriction
$zoo
$soo
$aso
5.01.4
Using water for outdoor purposes during a
dectared water e me rgency
$soo
$400
$sso
5.02.1
Hindering or interfering with a municipaI officer
or contractor
$2so
$gso
$soo
5.02.2
AtLowing water to discharge wastefutty or
negl,igentLy
$1 50
$250
$+oo
5.02.3
Tampering with or attering a municipaI water
meter or service pipe
$+oo
$soo
$oso
5.02.4
Unauthorized connection to municipaI water
inf rastructure
$400
$soo
$oso
5.01.2
Unauthorized transfer, sate, or redistribution of
municipaI water
$soo
$aoo
$sso
5.01.3
Watering during a period of temporary ban or
restriction
$200
$eoo
$+so
5.01.4
Using water for outdoor purposes during a
dectared water emergency
$soo
$400
$sso
6.01.3
Levetl-CarefutUse
$t oo
$200
$sso
6.01.4
Leve[ 2 - Moderate Restrictions
$t so
$zso
$400
6.01.5
Level 3 - Prohibited Outdoor Use
$zoo
$soo
$+so
6.01.6
Levet4 - Emergency Restrictions
$soo
$+oo
$sso
APPEN DIX'A' - Penalties
Note:
o Tier 1 = First offence
o Tier 2 = Second offence within 12 months
o Tier 3 = Third or subsequent offence within 12 months
o Penatties are issued as per the Town's AMPS By-l.aw
o Faiture to respond to a penatty notice may resutt in additional. administrative fees or
cottection actions.