Water use restrictions tightened

In a special meeting following the Town Board work session Tuesday morning, members voted unanimously to tighten restrictions on well water use.

The new restrictions provide:

• Sprinkler use from well-drawn water for the purpose of irrigation is now banned between the hours of  9 a.m. and 7 p.m. Last month, the restriction had been from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

• The use of well-drawn water for the purpose of topping off swimming pools is to be limited to no more than 2 inches of additional water in any five day period.

• All other provisions not specifically amended remain in full force.

The action came after Water Advisory Committee (WAC) Chairman Andrew Chapman outlined how the committee arrived at the recommended changes.

Armed with historical data, Mr. Chapman explained that despite some heavy rainstorms in June and July, test wells were still 10 inches below their five-year average.

He quoted his WAC colleague David Ruby who said, “We are not going to rainfall out of this drought.”

All the actions the Town Board took were those the WAC recommended.

Irrigation

Deputy Supervisor Meg Larsen outlined proposed changes to the Town’s Irrigation Code, noting that a subcommittee studying the code has recommended several changes. Discussions have taken place with landscapers, irrigation experts and system operators, providing information about what works and what doesn’t.

But at this point, she said it’s time to hear from the public and for the Town Board to discuss the proposed changes and “choose a path.”

She outlined several potential changes, most of which apply to turf irrigation systems while a few relate to drip irrigation systems. For turf irrigation systems:

• Testing of well water for chloride levels has been done in August or September. It should be moved to May. Those whose chloride levels were at or above 125 mg per liter or more need to shut down their irrigation systems for the season and could retest in May. It that reading was normal, they could get permits to continue operating their systems. But if they tested at dangerous levels twice, the system needs to be shut since it is an indication the property is too sensitive to support an irrigation system. But another part of the suggestion was to have the system removed and Ms. Larsen said the Town Board wants to hear from the public about whether the property owner should be required to remove the system. It can be decommissioned without removal, Ms. Larsen said.

But she said the testing would weed out systems that are “problematic.”

• Elimination of moisture sensors is a proposed change advocated by landscapers. They are too “fickle” and depending on where they are placed can show vastly different readings.

• The “biggest change” proposed is to add a new section breaking out chloride testing for well-drawn turf  systems in the Near Shore and Peninsula Overlay District.

There is attention to areas where residents have experienced issues with water quality, Ms. Larsen said, naming Westmoreland as an area where several concerns have arisen. The turf systems are allowed there, but there are several complaints about salt water intrusion in their wells, she said.

As for drip irrigation systems, they are mostly used for new plantings and rarely used for watering turf. Not many use drip systems to establish turf.

Before the meeting began, two experienced landscape experts — Walter Richards and Jay Card Jr. — urged no changes in turf irrigation systems until other means are explored for avoiding salt water intrusion.

The subcommittee, in its exploration, found drip irrigation systems are the most responsible because they are generally covered with mulch and don’t experience much water loss to evaporation. If they are fed from the aquifer, the draw on water is slower.

The full proposal is on the Town website and Ms. Larsen asked her colleagues and the public to read the document in preparation for a public hearing that has not yet been scheduled.