Last week, water restrictions went into effect with stiff penalties for violators. Water will be restricted to three days a week for a maximum three hours, and only in early morning or late evening timeframes. (Residents may see town hall for details if the times mailer sent by the town is unclear.) As part of the process of connecting the town’s water to a single point prior to distribution to residents, the tank has been drained and will receive a complete cleaning, sanitation and maintenance overhaul before being re-connected to the water system. That process will take a couple months while in the meantime, the temporary tank, which holds less than half the volume with 450,000 gallons, will be used by the town.
Mike Fronapfel, Public Works Director, said he wanted to tell the community “thanks” for doing their part to conserve water and follow the restrictions.
In the week since everything was changed to the temporary tank, the usage per day has been reduced by almost half (from 800,000 per day to 485,000 per day).
“At this point, our wells can handle this – if people keep it up,” Fronapfel said. If the town’s well pumps are not being overworked, the restrictions will remain as they are – but if there are issues with the pumps overworking, the town may consider a two-hour, three days a week schedule. But if all goes well, and it looks like it may, things will be able to continue as they are.