WESTFIELD — While the city has implemented mandatory water restrictions in the past, this is the first time non-essential outdoor water use has been restricted as the result of regional drought conditions.
“We’ve never had one like this before,” said Heather Stayton, the city’s water system engineer, about the restrictions that went into effect Monday, May 5.
The restrictions, approved by the city’s Water Commission, went into place after the state’s Department of Energy and Environmental Affairs Secretary Rebecca Tepper declared the Connecticut Riber Valley region in a level 1 mild drought.
“We have to put those restrictions in place,” Stayton said, which is required by the EEA.
The restriction will remain in place until further notice, according to the commission’s announcement.
Non-essential outdoor water use will only be allowed one day per week unless it meets the requirements for an exception, such as for the production of food or fiber, or as a core function of a business, like maintaining a golf course’s tees and greens with limited fairway watering.
Allowed use also includes the professional washing of exterior building surfaces, parking lots and driveways as necessary to apply surface treatments; irrigation of public parks before 9 a.m. and after 5 p.m.; irrigation of public and private recreation fields; irrigation of publicly funded shade trees, or to establish a new lawn as necessary to stabilize soil in response to new construction, according to state regulations.
The commission broke the city into three sections with each section having a specific day for outdoor water use once a week.
For Section 1, ratepayers who are billed in January, April, July, and October, non-essential outdoor water use will only be allowed before 9 a.m. and after 5 p.m. on Tuesdays.
For Section 2, ratepayers, who are billed in February, May, August, and November, outdoor water use will only be allowed before 9 a.m. and after 5 p.m. on Thursdays.
For Section 3, ratepayers who are billed in March, June, September, and December, outdoor water use will be allowed only before 9 a.m. and after 5 p.m. on Saturdays.
The section number for the property is located on the combined utility bill near the parcel ID number, according to the city.
To check the status and stay up to date on the restrictions, visit the Water Department’s website at www.cityofwestfield.org/657/Water where the restrictions and updates will be posted.
In March, the City Council amended the city’s water ordinance to be implemented during drought conditions to comply with state regulations.
The amendments included upping the fines for violating the ordinance.
For a first offense, a $50 citation will be issued, for a second offense, a $100 citation will be issued, and $150 for all subsequent offenses, which are applied by the superintendent of public works, the assistant superintendent of public works or the deputy superintendent of water.
This water restriction program is mandated by the state’s Department of Environmental Protection as a condition of being able to produce water and is designed to sustain the water supply for all. The anticipated cooperation by city of Westfield water customers is greatly appreciated, according to the announcement by the city.
The amendment also adds the caveat that if a state of water supply emergency has been declared, the water commissioners may, in accordance with state law, shut off the water at the meter or the curb stop.
