Dear fellow Hanoverians:
The Department of Public Works sent along the following
information this afternoon. Effective immediately, and until further
notice, residents are required to limit outside watering of lawns, plantings
and gardens to odd numbered homes on odd numbered days and even numbered homes
on even numbered days between 6:00 a.m. – 9:00 a.m. and 6:00 p.m. –
9:00 p.m. daily with hand held hoses only. Use of sprinklers is
prohibited.
Further details regarding violations of this policy or how
private wells are to be labeled will be forthcoming via a snail mail letter
sent to residents this week.
DPW
Superintendent Victor Diniak added the following further comments: “People
may ask how we are in such a tight spot given the 18 inches of rain we had in
March. Unfortunately, most of that water has drained away, finding its
way through the network of rivers and streams out to the ocean. The level
of water in the Town’s wells isn’t too bad for this time of year.
Unfortunately, the system demand has been absolutely crazy, overwhelming our
ability to pump the water out of the ground quick enough. We are
currently using water at a rate that is well beyond the safe yield of our
aquifer. If we don’t reduce demand now, we cannot guarantee water will be
available as the summer progresses.”
“The
Town’s aquifer is like a big bathtub filled with gravel. The water we
withdraw from that bathtub needs to be replenished through precipitation.
Unfortunately, a drive around town will show that despite the occasional late
afternoon downpours we have had, lawns are indeed browning up which is an
indicator that we have not had enough rain. The state has a variety of
rules that force towns to live within their water means so as not to pump the
rivers and streams dry. We are at a point where we need to live up to
those rules.”
For further information, please contact the Department of
Public Works at (781) 826-3189.
For "Around Town on the Web",
Cathy H-B
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