Gardner mayor questions need for water ban

Gardner mayor questions need for water ban

A sign in Gardner for the summerlong water ban (GEORGE BARNES)

By George Barnes TELEGRAM & GAZETTE STAFF
gbarnes@telegram.com

GARDNER — With water use well below acceptable limits and an ample supply in the city's wells and reservoirs, Mayor Mark P. Hawke is questioning the need for state-imposed water restrictions.

In issuing the city's permit for its water system, the state this year required Gardner to impose water restrictions that will be in effect until Sept. 30.

Water restrictions are in place in more than 30 Central Massachusetts communities, some annually for many years, but Mr. Hawke said they are something new for the Chair City and he questions the rationale for them.

"We don't believe there is a need," he said. "We have a very low per-capita use."

Mr. Hawke said the city is well under what the state considers maximum per-person water use and it is well below the state threshold for unaccounted water use.


Unaccounted water use may be from losses within the system, water used in fighting fires and other use not metered through homes, businesses and other entities.

"The fact that we're under that doesn't matter," Mr. Hawke said. "We still have a water ban."

Joe Ferson, a spokesman for the state Department of Environmental Protection, said the state imposes restrictions to ensure a safe water yield continues throughout the year.

"In the late summer, early fall we were falling a bit behind with our seasonal rainfall," he said.

Mr. Ferson said the restrictions help ensure there will continue to be adequate water in the state.

Mr. Hawke said the restrictions become an economic issue for the city. He said the water use restrictions cost the city money because they reduce billable use, which results in lower water revenue and could result in rate increases to make up the difference.

Mr. Hawke said the city is part of the Millers River basin and the restrictions are imposed to protect the basin. Gardner agreed to the restrictions in order to get its water use permit, but when the mayor received the letter from the DEP he thought the restrictions were so harsh he urged residents to express their concern to the state. He said that after speaking with DEP officials, he was surprised to learn many things are exempt from the restrictions.

Gardner's restrictions basically bar the watering of lawns or washing of vehicles between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. When Mr. Hawke asked about car washes put on by charitable organizations, he was told they were exempt.

Mr. Hawke said that although he now does not think the restrictions are as severe, he still thinks the restrictions should be done on a case-by-case basis.

Mr. Hawke also said the ban is difficult to enforce. He said city police do not have the time in their schedule to go out looking for water ban violators.

In some cases, communities are able to institute and remove bans based on water conditions.

To promote water conservation, the Department of Environmental Protection's permit of public water has two different kinds of mandatory outdoor watering bans. One is a seasonal ban restricting the watering of lawns and other unnecessary use from May 1 through Sept. 30. The second is stream flow reported from 100 gauging stations along major rivers and streams across the state.

Gardner is under the seasonal ban. Athol is monitored by stream flow.

Athol Public Works Director Douglas Walsh said his town monitors the Millers River directly and is able to lift its ban when the water level is above a certain level. On July 7, he said, the town removed its ban because nearly six inches of water had fallen in the previous week, raising the water level well into the safe zone. With more heavy rainfall expected the next two days, he did not anticipate going back to the restrictions soon.

Sturbridge is under the same kind of monitoring as Athol. Its restrictions are governed by a gauge in the Quinebaug River.

Fitchburg and Gardner are the only cities in Central Massachusetts with water restrictions. Worcester and Leominster are not under restrictions, but more than half the towns in the region restrict use.

Shrewsbury allows outdoor water use only three days per week and no non-essential uses between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. The town has more stringent requirements to ensure it does not exceed its permitted use.

Leicester is the only community in Central Massachusetts listed as being under voluntary restrictions. The Cherry Valley and Rochdale Water District instituted water restrictions the same time other communities were placed under mandatory restriction.

Contact George Barnes at george.barnes@telegram.com. Follow him on Twitter @georgebarnesTG