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Mayor Will Reichelt

3 days ago

Please be advised a water ban is in effect starting July 15, 2019 until the end of December of 2019. The Town of West Springfield is implementing a water use restriction due to service on the Pease Ave water tank. This water use restriction covers non-essential outside watering; watering will be permitted from 5pm-9am.

MANDATORY WATER USE RESTRICTIONS

Under West Springfield Water Withdrawal Permit through MassDEP, and according to its authority, the Mayor has declared a State of Water Supply Conservation thereby imposing a mandatory Water Use Restriction on non-essential outdoor water use.

By definition, “non-essential” means use not required for health or safety reasons, by regulation, for production of food or fiber, for maintenance of livestock, or to meet the core function of a business.

Who must comply with the water restriction?
These restrictions apply to all customers of the Town of West Springfield DPW Water Division. Any residents who are not on the Town’s water system or use outdoor water from alternative resources, such as a private well or lakes, are not subject to these restrictions. However, all Town residents are strongly urged to conserve water by any means possible.

When is non-essential outdoor water use permitted?
Residents are permitted to use non-essential outdoor water only after 5:00 PM and before 9:00 AM.

What are examples of non-essential water use (and thus subject to these restrictions)?
• Irrigation of lawns via sprinklers or automatic irrigation systems
• Washing of vehicles, except in a commercial car wash or as necessary for operator safety or to prevent damage and/or maintain the performance of agricultural or construction vehicles or equipment
• Washing of exterior building surfaces, parking lots, driveways or sidewalks, except as necessary to apply surface treatments such as paint, preservatives, stucco, pavement or cement

What are examples of water use that is allowed when these restrictions are in place (and thus not subject to these restrictions)?
• Irrigation to establish a new lawn and new plantings during the months of May and September
• Irrigation of parks and recreational fields utilizing automatic sprinklers outside the hours of 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM (early morning or late evening)
• Irrigation of gardens, flowers, and ornamental plants utilizing a hand-held hose, soaker hose or drip irrigation system
• Irrigation of lawns employing a hand-held hose only
• Irrigation with harvested and stored stormwater runoff
• For health and safety reasons
• By regulation
• For the production of food and fiber
• For the maintenance of livestock
• To meet the core functions of a business (i.e., irrigation by golf courses as necessary to maintain tees, greens, and limited fairway watering; or irrigation by plant nurseries as essential to keep stock or establish new plantings, wash equipment to prevent damage and/or maintain performance, pest management, and plant cooling)

Why is there a water restriction?
A major drinking water asset (Pease Ave Water Tank) is out of service and has caused many customers to experience lower than normal water pressure. Less demand at off-peak times (less outdoor watering) will help keep water pressures at or near normal for those customers experiencing lower than normal water pressure.

Also per the Town’s Water Withdrawal Permit (expected to be updated in 2020) through MassDEP, a limit on non-essential outdoor water use shall be implemented when the following conditions are met: During May and June, the mean daily streamflow at the USGS gauge #01183500.

• #01183500 (Westfield River) falls below 502 cubic feet per second for three consecutive days During July, August, and September, the mean daily streamflow at the USGS gauge.

• #01183500 (Westfield River) falls below 174 cubic feet per second for three consecutive days. There are no water use restrictions between October and April. The minimum flows identified above were established through MassDEP to protect fish habitat for spring spawning and summer rearing/growth.

When is this restriction in effect?
This restriction is in effect immediately through the end of December 2019, unless streamflow levels in the Westfield River rise above the minimum flow thresholds identified above for seven consecutive days. The Town will issue a separate notification when these Water Use Restrictions are lifted.

How can the Town track and/or determine whether I use outdoor water?
The water metering system allows the Town to track usage of all meters. Those services whose meters record flow rates consistent with outdoor use during this restriction will be flagged and investigated. Police and Town DPW crews will also be on the look-out for violators during their daily rounds.

What are the penalties for not complying with this restriction?
Per Town of West Springfield Ordinance Section 7-1500, violators for the first offense be given a written warning, violators can be fined $50 for the second offense and $100 for the third offense and $150 for every subsequent offense.

Can the restriction limit for non-essential water use be limited to one day a week? Why do some other communities have no water restrictions or water restrictions that are not as stringent?
Town of West Springfield DPW Water -Water Withdrawal Permit will be renewed through MassDEP in 2020, and it is expected that outdoor water will have a one day a week limitation which is the standard requirement written into this permit. MassDEP is continuously reviewing and updating Water Withdrawal Permits throughout the State. It is likely that other communities with no or less stringent restrictions have not had their permit renewed recently. In time, all cities with permitted water withdrawals through MassDEP will be required to have similar limits as Southwick as their permits are updated.

Where can I find a list of all communities in the state with water restrictions in place?
MassDEP maintains a list of all communities with water use restrictions. A link to the website is as follows: www.mass.gov/files/documents/2019/05/29/wateruse.pdf

If you have any questions, please contact the Department of Public Works at 413-263-3230.

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