By Dave Fidlin
Correspondent
The Village of Waterford has a new well pump to replace one that failed in June, but officials continue to sound a cautious tone about water consumption, as dry conditions continue.
Monday night, the Village Board officially approved an emergency order put into place last week that sets strict rules on when outdoor water use is permissible. It will continue for an undetermined period of time.
The order stipulates property owners are only allowed to conduct outdoor watering between 6 p.m. and 10 p.m.
Property owners with even-numbered addresses can water on even-numbered days during the four-hour time frame; those with odd-numbered addresses can water on odd-numbered days.
Despite the drastic improvement in infrastructure with the new pump in place, Director of Public Works Jeff Dolezal said the uncharacteristically dry conditions have taxed all four of the village’s wells.
Dolezal said that double the normal amount of water is being consumed.
“We’re going to have to monitor this very closely,” Dolezal said. “If we don’t get some rain soon, we might have to go back to an outright watering ban. Unfortunately, Mother Nature’s been very unkind to us.”
Water conservation is necessary, according to village officials, because reserves are needed to prevent an interruption in service and to ensure an adequate supply is available for firefighting efforts.
An outright ban would be considered a last resort, but is not off the table if dry conditions persist.
“This is the last thing I want to do, but it’s the direction we’re headed,” Dolezal said.
Dolezal and other officials expressed frustration at wasted water consumption, most notably with driveways, sidewalks, curbs and gutters beingt water during sprinkling.
“I drive around, and people seem to be doing whatever they want,” Trustee Judy Spencer said. “I don’t want to wait until the point of return.”
Dolezal emphasized the village’s situation is not so dire that an outright ban is warranted at this time. But he also questioned the rationale behind watering dry lawns.
“It’s gotten so dry that you’re better off leaving your lawn dormant,” he said. “It’s going to come back.”
Several board members queried legal counsel on the prospect of providing enforcement if and when violations are spotted. But Village Attorney Marcy Hasenstab emphasized enforcement was best left to village staff.
“But there’s nothing stopping you from going up to someone and saying, ‘Hey, you’re not supposed to be doing this,’” Hasenstab said.
The board’s action does permit Dolezal to make exceptions to the emergency order as needed.
For example, staff at Waterford Union High School have been watering the football fields within the restricted hours to prepare for the upcoming season that is not far off on the horizon.
“They’ve been working with us to keep water consumption down,” Dolezal said.
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