WESTFIELD – Due to an increased demand for water during the summer months, the Westfield Water Division on behalf of the Board of Water Cmmissioners has announced that mandatory conservation measures are necessary to ensure that an adequate supply of water exists for all water consumers.
“Due to increased demand, we are having to implement mandatory water restrictions effective [June 10]. The warm weather typically brings with it an increase in demand, and this year we have had a significant stretch of dry weather as it has been warming. This causes stress on our water production as people use water for lawns, gardens, and pools and increase the water usage in the city to over 300% of the typical winter usage. By asking residents to reduce their usage and conserve water, our water production will be able to keep up with the demand throughout the city,” said Systems Engineer Heather Stayton.
All non-essential water use is only allowed on Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday before 9 am and after 5 p.m. at odd numbered houses.
All non-essential water use is only allowed on Wednesday Friday, and Sunday before 9 am and after 5 p.m. at even numbered houses.
No non-essential water use is allowed on Mondays.
This non- essential water use restriction will be effective until further notice.
Examples of “non-essential” water use include irrigation of lawns via sprinklers or automatic irrigation systems; washing of vehicles, except in a commercial car wash or as necessary for operator safety; 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, and irrigation of lawns, gardens, flowers and ornamental plants by means of a hand-held hose, soaker hose or drip irrigation system.
Examples of water uses not subject to restrictions: For health and safety reasons; by regulation; for the production of food and fiber; for the maintenance of livestock; or to meet the core functions of a business (for example, irrigation by golf courses as necessary to maintain tees, greens, and limited fairway watering, or irrigation by plant nurseries as necessary to maintain stock).
It is unlawful for any person to violate the terms, conditions, restrictions or requirements of a declaration of a state of water supply emergency or state of water supply conservation. The penalty for violation of these mandatory restrictions is $25 for the first citation and $50 for the second and each additional citation. Each day on which a violation occurs constitutes a separate violation.
This mandatory water restriction program is designed to sustain the water supply for all. If you have any questions please contact the Water Division at (413) 572-6269.
