ATHOL — The Athol Department of Public Works Water Division ordered a mandatory water use restriction effective Thursday, July 18, based on stream flow of the Millers River recorded at the river gauge located in Erving dropping to below 186 cubic feet per second for more than three consecutive days.
Effective immediately, and in accordance with Athol’s Water Use Restriction By-law and Water Management Act Permit, the town is required to implement the following mandatory outside water use restriction:
• No nonessential water use allowed between the hours of 9 a.m. and 5 p.m.
Examples of nonessential outdoor water use include watering and irrigation of lawns, washing of vehicles other than by means of a commercial car wash except as necessary for operator safety; and the washing of exterior building surfaces, parking lots, driveways or sidewalks except as necessary to apply paint, preservatives, stucco, pavement or cement.
Assistant DPW Superintendent Dick Kilhart said Thursday, “This is not a water ban — there is a difference.”
The current restriction limits use of water for non essential purposes during certain hours each day. An outright ban would restrict water usage on specific days.
Town of Athol employees carry ticket books and are required to enforce the water restriction under the town’s water use management permit. Kilhart said if there is a report or if a town employee sees someone violating the order, “we will stop and have a conversation, educating them about water use and conservation and why it’s better to water in the morning or evening after the hours of restriction.” He said watering during the hottest part of the day results in “loss of upwards of 75 percent of that water on a day with temperatures between 75 and 100 degrees. Watering during the hottest part of the day is bad.”
The first violation results in a warning. The second consecutive incident results in a $50 written fine.
“If we are called back for a third offense, and someone continues to not obey the requested water use restriction, it is a $100 fine. The fourth and subsequent fines are also $100 each,” said Kilhart.
He said most people abide by the water rules in Athol, and only 26 tickets have been written in the years Athol has had the water use restriction.
“It’s seems crazy we are related to the flow gauge in Erving 15 miles away,” said Kilhart, “But that is the gauge that was picked for our communities. Generally Athol and Orange go into a water restriction at the same time.”
Orange Town Clerk Nancy Blackmer confirmed that Orange also ordered a water use restriction on Wednesday.
Kilhart noted that other communities opt to restrict water usage from May 1 to Sept 30 every year.
“Athol decided to base the ban on the stream flow trigger gage,” he said, noting he gets daily updates on the stream flow level in Erving.
The Athol Water Department is required (per the Water Use Restriction By-law and Water Management Act Permit issued by the Department of Environmental Protection) to enforce these restrictions until the river gauge at Erving is above 186 cubic feet per second for seven consecutive days, at which time the public will be notified of the elimination of the restrictions.
Kilhart said, “With the rain we got last night, the gauge is going to be up. But this weekend the temperatures will be up and no rain. We need a period of time for the water level to adjust before the restriction is removed.”
This water restriction has been around for at least 10 years, Kilhart said, noting that while the fines are in place, the emphasis is on educating the public.
“We want to encourage water conservation and be the stewards of the watershed in the area,” he said, “Not just for you and I today… it’s for your kids and their kids down the road. We’re more about trying to educate someone. Let them know where they can go to get information to help conserve water. Educating people goes a long way.”
Assistant health Agent Jane O’Brien said the heavy duty 55-gallon plastic units, designed specifically for collecting rainwater, available at the town hall come fitted with a spigot on the bottom and a mosquito mesh on top. They cost $64 each (no tax). The department also has Earth Machine compost bins available ($45 each), Each unit has a lockable door, twist turn lid to allow control of ventilation. The contemporary unit has a 10-year warranty and is small enough to fit in a car. O’Brien notes that their officer accepts only written checks (no cash or credit card).