Aquarion Water Public Notice - Water Restrictions and FAQ's

Public Notice

Aquarion Water Customers
Annual Water Restrictions
Mandatory Water Restrictions To Begin on April 15, 2018

Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection (MassDEP) regulates the amount of water that all water suppliers in Massachusetts can withdraw from the environment on an annual basis.  The company must abide by the annual limit on the amount of water withdrawn from its wells and reservoir in the Weir River Watershed, as authorized by MassDEP.  As such, Aquarion Water Company is implementing its annual water restrictions on outside irrigation systems to ensure that the annual limit is not exceeded. The following annual water restrictions are in effect from April 15, 2018 through October 15, 2018:

             1.      No operation of irrigation systems or hose-end sprinklers is allowed after 10 a.m.
                    and before 6 p.m.

2.      Watering by sprinkler or irrigation systems is allowed on Customers’ assigned day only after 6 p.m. and before 10 a.m.

3.      Customers’ assigned days are as follows: 
      ·       Odd addresses: Tuesdays and Saturdays;

      ·       Even addresses: Wednesdays and Sundays;

4.      Hand watering is allowed anytime, unless prohibited pursuant to Section 25 regarding Drought Condition Restrictions.

5.      Due to the Accord Tank Maintenance Project, a full ban on the use of irrigation systems will be in place for all homes located in South Hingham (residents who live south of Ward Street, Cushing Street, and South Pleasant Street) from April 15^th through May 25^th. Only hand held watering will be allowed during this period.

The Company may institute further restrictions as conditions or regulations may require. For more information about these water restrictions or our customer water conservation programs please contact us at: 1-800-928-3734 or visit www.aquarionwater.com

 

 

Water Restrictions for Aquarion’s Hingham-Hull-North Cohasset System

Frequently Asked Questions

1.       Why is Aquarion implementing water restriction measures?

Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection (MassDEP) regulates the amount of water that all water suppliers in Massachusetts can withdraw from the environment on an annual basis.  The company must abide by the annual limit on the amount of water withdrawn from its wells and reservoir in the Weir River Watershed, as authorized by MassDEP.  As such,  Aquarion Water is implementing annual water restrictions on outside irrigation systems to ensure that the annual limit is not exceeded.

2.       Who regulates the amount of water that water utilities can withdraw from the environment?

The Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection (MassDEP) regulates and closely monitors the quantity of water that water utilities withdraw from the environment.

3.       When can I water my lawn?

The water restrictions have been established pursuant to Aquarion’s Rules and Regulations, as approved by the Massachusetts Department of Public Utilities. 

Water restrictions are in effect from April 15^th thru October 15^th.

*Due to the Accord Tank Project, all homes located in South Hingham (homes south of Ward Street, Cushing Street, and South Pleasant Street) are restricted  to a full ban on the use of irrigation systems from April 15th through May 25th. Hand held watering is allowed. After May 25^th, homes in this area can follow the restrictions below:

The restrictions apply only to irrigation systems and hose-end sprinklers.

Customers with odd number street addresses may only water on Tuesdays and Saturdays, and those with even number street addresses may only water on Wednesdays and Sundays.

On these assigned days, customers are allowed to water before 10 a.m. and after 6 p.m., when evaporation losses will be minimized and more water goes to the plants’ roots.

4.       Is hand-held watering allowed?

Yes, hand-held watering is permitted at any time.

5.       Am I allowed to wash my vehicles or fill a swimming pool?

Yes.

6.       I use my own private well for irrigation; do these restrictions apply to me?

No. The restrictions do not apply to irrigation systems that are supplied with water from a private well.

7.       Where can I find information on lawn and garden care?

Visit http://www.nsrwa.org/watersmart/greenscapes/ for tips on lawn and garden care. According to Greenscapes:

·       Grass grows the deepest and healthiest roots with infrequent watering.

·       Watering two days a week is more than adequate to have a beautiful lawn. In fact, research has shown that grass thrives with about an inch of rain a week - some supplied by Mother Nature and the rest by just one watering.

Additional Lawn IrrigationTips:

•         Set your mower at one of the higher cutting heights to help your lawn retain water. Keep your mower blades sharp. Dull blades tear grass and require it to use 40-60% more water to repair itself.

•         Mulch your lawn naturally by letting clippings remain on the lawn. This will help stop water loss.

•         Avoid over-watering by using a rain gauge to tell when your lawn needs water and also to measure how much you’re applying. Generally, turf grasses need about ¾"—1" of water per week. If the forecast calls for rain, hold off on watering.

•         Position your sprinklers to water only the lawn—not driveways, sidewalks, patios, or roads.

•         For irrigation systems: The sprinkler heads should be adjusted so the areas they water don’t overlap. Regularly inspect for leaks and repair them quickly. Equip the system with rain sensors so you don’t waste water by irrigating while it’s raining.

•         When planting new grass, use one of the new drought-resistant grasses. 

8.       Is our community doing anything new with respect to water conservation?

Yes, Aquarion has implemented a new water conservation program for our customers.  We are replacing toilets, shower heads, and faucet aerators for free.  In addition, we are offering a $250 rebate towards an energy efficient clothes water and $2,500 towards alternative landscaping costs for demolishing an automatic irrigation system.  To find out more information and if you are eligible for these benefits please visit our website: www.aquarionwater.com/conservationoffers.

If you need further assistance, please contact:

Aquarion’s Customer Service Department at 1-800-928-3734 or at AquarionCustomerService@aquarionwater.com

 

Maximum Twice-Weekly Sprinkler Irrigation Schedule
Last Digit of Your Address Number		Please Water Only On:
0, 2, 4, 6 or 8 (even numbers)	Sunday & Wednesday Before 10:00 am or After 6:00 pm
1, 3, 5, 7 or 9 (odd numbers)	Saturday & Tuesday Before 10:00 am or After 6:00 pm
No address number	Sunday & Wednesday Before 10:00 am or After 6:00 pm