SOUTHWICK — Southwick has reinstated its outdoor water use restrictions, the DPW announced on July 30.
Customers of the town’s water supply are now limited to one day per week of “non-essential” outdoor water use. Even on permitted days, non-essential water use is only allowed before 9 a.m. or after 5 p.m.
In a press release, Public Works Director Randy Brown said low flow in the Westfield River for three days, July 27-29, triggered the restrictions, which are mandated by a 2014 water withdrawal permit issued by the state Department of Environmental Protection.
Restrictions apply to “non-essential outdoor water use,” such as watering lawns with sprinklers, washing cars outdoors and washing exterior surfaces like driveways or parking lots.
Outdoor water use that is necessary for health and safety, or for the core functions of agriculture or business, are not restricted. Some modified versions of non-essential uses are also allowed, such as watering lawns and gardens with hand-held hoses, soaker hoses or drip irrigation; watering a lawn that was planted in the past 12 months; or washing a car at a commercial car wash.
Which day is allowed for non-essential outdoor water use is determined by whether the property has an even-numbered or odd-numbered address, and whether it lies north or south of a line that follows Granville Road, Depot Street and South Longyard Road. All addresses directly on those three roads are considered part of the north region. Mornings and evenings when outdoor water use is allowed are:
- Mondays: North region, odd-numbered properties.
- Tuesdays: North region, even-numbered properties.
- Wednesdays: South region, odd-numbered properties.
- Thursdays: South region, even-numbered properties.
Non-essential outdoor water use is banned all day, all throughout town, on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays.
The town can issue fines of $50 for the first offense and $100 for every offense afterward.
More information is available on the Southwick website. The press release encourages those with questions to reach out to the DPW office at 413-569-6772.
