SOUTHWICK – Although winter is still in full force, residents are being warned water bans could be in store when the weather gets hot.
Department of Public Works Director (DPW) Randy Brown said the bans could come from the Department of Environmental Protection after water withdrawal negotiations.
Brown said Southwick’s withdrawal permit is up for renewal in November and he is working with ADT Associates out of Cambridge for assistance with the permit renewal.
“Every community has to go through this,” said Brown. “I know Westfield’s permit is up next year.”
Brown said it’s best to get ahead of the renewal, so Southwick is “starting the process now so we’ll be ready to go.”
Currently, the town’s maximum daily water withdrawal is 1.02 million gallons, with an annual max of 266 million gallons.
“Based on preliminary talks with the DEP, I don’t think that will change,” he said.
Each town has its own water withdrawal limits. West Springfield, said Brown, has a six million gallon per day maximum, but uses about 4our million gallons so the new maximum for that community will likely be capped at four million gallons with its permit renewal.
Brown said decreases are driven by environmental factors. Streamflow, he said, often exceeds the threshold.
“This affects the natural habitat,” he said.
When this happens, water bans are put in place. Brown said typically, water use is banned during certain hours of the day.
“Usually it’s from 9 a.m. – 5 p.m., or something similar,” he said.
Brown said he wants residents to be prepared in case a ban is executed this summer.
