Private use of water and power to prohibit or restrict temporarily use of hosepipes

(1) Subject to the provisions of section 32, the occupier of any land, his family and employees ordinarily resident on that land are entitled to abstract and use any water on, adjacent to, or under that land for the domestic necessities of his household, including the watering of live-stock and the irrigation of a subsistence garden, notwithstanding an Order made in accordance with section 58. (2) Where a licensee is of opinion that in any area of water supply covered by his licence, a serious deficiency of water available for distribution by him exists or is threatened, the licensee shall so inform the Minister who may, after consultation with the P.U.C. and by Order published in the Gazette, for such period as he thinks necessary prohibit or restrict as respects the whole or any part of the licensee’s water supply system, the use of water for the purpose of watering private gardens or washing private motor cars, or any water supplied by him and drawn through a hosepipe or similar apparatus. (3) In sub-section (2), the expression “private motor car” means a motor vehicle intended or adapted for use on roads, other than a public service vehicle within the meaning of the Motor Vehicles and Road Traffic Act or a goods vehicle within the meaning of that Act. (4) The P.U.C. shall at least three days before such prohibition or restriction comes into force, publish in one or more newspapers circulating in the country, notice of the prohibition or restriction and of the date when it will come into force. (5) Any person who contravenes any Order made under this section commits an offence and is liable on summary conviction to a fine not exceeding one thousand dollars or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding twelve months or to both such fine and imprisonment. (6) During any period when a prohibition or restriction imposed under this section is in force, any officer of a licensee shall, on producing if so required some duly authenticated document showing his authority, have a right at all reasonable hours to enter any premises in any area to which the prohibition or restriction applies for the purpose of ascertaining whether there is or has been any contravention of the prohibition or restriction; and the provisions of this Act relating to entry of premises shall apply to any such right of entry.