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June 12, 2009

First water bans of season are ordered in three towns

By Steve Landwehr

Stream flow in the Ipswich River has been falling since Saturday, triggering mandatory watering bans yesterday in Hamilton, Wenham and Topsfield.

Sprinklers must be turned off, and any garden watering must be done with a handheld hose, and only after 5 p.m. and before 9 a.m.

Nonessential water use, such as car washing and filling swimming pools, is prohibited.

Hamilton and Wenham already have town regulations banning daytime outdoor water use, so the only change is that sprinklers are now taboo.

Topsfield has had a voluntary water ban in place since late May.

The state Department of Environmental Protection issued new water withdrawal permits to all 13 communities in the Ipswich River watershed in 2003. All 13 communities appealed, but in the five cases that have been decided, the state restrictions have been upheld.

They require mandatory water bans if stream flow falls below 52.5 cubic feet per second for three straight days. The gauge at the Willowdale dam was at that mark Saturday, and despite light rain all week, the river has continued to drop.

The bans will be in force until stream flow exceeds the threshold for seven consecutive days.

If you have questions, here are the phone numbers for the respective water departments:

Hamilton: 978-468-5580 or 978-468-5581.

Topsfield: 978-887-1518 or 978-887-1518.

Wenham: 978-468-5520, ext. 6.

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