Voluntary Water

Conservation Program

Please avoid all outside water use between the hours of 9:00 AM and 6:00PM.

Residents living in homes on the odd numbered sides of streets are asked to water lawns and gardens on odd numbered days only.

Residents residing on even numbered sides of streets are requested to water lawns and gardens on even numbered days.

Water only when necessary. Please be aware of the advance weather forecast. If wind and rain is forecast make adjustments to your watering schedule to minimize water consumption.

Maintain your lawn at a height of at least two (2) inches. This practice will protect roots and retain soil moisture.

Install rain shutoff devices on automatic irrigation systems.

Water Conservation kits available at no charge upon request. Use water wisely! Your cooperation and participation will help us meet our increasing summer pumping demands! ! ! !

 

NEW WATER TANK

Construction of the Old Stage Water Tank is underway. The funding involves a low 2% loan through Federal/State programs and also provides a minimum of 14%  principle forgiveness reducing borrowing costs of nearly $430,000.

The combination of a welded steel tank and reinforced concrete support pedestal is the most efficient use of materials for both containment and support, providing the lowest capital and life cycle cost.  Once finished, we will be proud to have constructed this signature tank that will be a geographic marker and an enduring symbol of community pride.

 

Residents Can Help Protect Sources By:

HELP AVOID IMPLEMENTING

“MANDATORY WATER BAN”

Outdoor water use for lawn irrigation is the largest non-essential water use and is one that involves both residential and commercial water users.

Water used for landscaping and lawn irrigation purposes should not be used at the expense of public safety or the environment. Water used for lawn irrigation should be used in a manner that minimizes such use through the use of sound water conservation and water efficiency practices. Municipal water demands generally peak during summer months when supplies are lowest.

Our District water use doubles as water demand for landscape irrigation purposes increase. The depletion of water resources threatens public safety, associated environmental resources, and the quality of public drinking water.

In extreme circumstances the large demand may cause pressure loss, providing low levels of service to customers and in severe cases, not providing enough pressure to meet fire-fighting needs.

We ask for your help by following the water conservation program.

USE WATER WISELY!

 

BOARD OF WATER COMMISSIONERS

WILLIAM A. MCINTYRE, CHAIRMAN

SCOTT E. CROSBY

PETER HANSEN

Infrastructure Upgrades

¨ Annual well cleaning and performance testing of pumping equipment.

¨ Annual Water Main Flushing Program.

¨ System improvements have been focused on the streets that the Town has scheduled for reconstruction. We have attempted to coordinate the necessary upgrades prior to this paving. The funds requested will allow us to add/replace necessary piping to those streets. This past year we upgraded and added piping to Nathan, Brezner, Finger Lane, Hollidge Hill Lane and Indian Pond Point. A total of nine thousand one hundred feet of new mains were added, replacing six thousand nine hundred feet of undersized piping.

 

New Source Exploration

           The construction of the new gravel packed well at the Hayden well field is complete. The site design of the station continues. The funding for the construction will be requested at the appropriate time.

Exploratory test wells will be conducted on Town owned land in Osterville. We are currently working with Town officials to protect and test other sites identified from the program.

New Water Tank

The lowest responsible bid for the Old Stage Road tank replacement project was from Landmark Construction website www.ldmkusa.com. Completion date is scheduled for December 2010. 

Awards Program

On June 25, 2009 we received an Honorable Mention Award for placing in the top 5% for all drinking water systems in the Commonwealth from the Department of Environmental Protection Drinking Water Program.

 

COMMUNITY AWARENESS TIP

Since the tragic events of September 11th, 2001 there clearly is a need to heighten security measures for water supplies and water system infrastructure. Residents are the eyes and ears of the community and we encourage you to call your local police with concerns about suspicious activities, illegal dumping, unauthorized use of fire hydrants, or other reportable offenses.

CROSS CONNECTIONS

     You as a business owner or homeowner must  protect your drinking water system and the health of your employees, customers and neighbors by preventing or protecting all cross connections on your premises.

What is a cross connection?

     A cross connection occurs whenever a potable drinking water line is directly or indirectly connected to a nonpotable piece of equipment or piping.  Examples of nonpotable equipment in your facility may include fire protection, lawn irrigation, air conditioning or cooling systems, as well as high pressure boilers.  In a factory, cross connections may also occur within process equipment such as chemical mixing tanks, plating tanks, and heat exchangers.   

How can a cross connection occur?

     Nonpotable water or chemicals used in a system or equipment can end up in the drinking water line as a result of backpressure or backsiphonage.  Backpressure occurs when the pressure in the equipment or system (e.g., air conditioning system, boiler, etc.) is greater than the pressure in the drinking water line.  Backsiphonage occurs when the pressure in the drinking water line drops (due to fairly routine occurrences such as water main breaks, fires, heavy demand, etc.) and contaminants are sucked out of the system and into the drinking water line.

 Why should I be concerned about cross connections?

     An unprotected or inadequately protected cross connection on your premises could contaminate the drinking water not only in your facility, but in neighboring businesses and homes.

     Severe illnesses have been caused by cross connection events that could have been prevented.  Unprotected and inadequately protected cross connections have been known to cause outbreaks of hepatitis A, gastroenteritis, Legionnaire's disease, chemical poisoning, body lesions (from exposure through showering), damage to plumbing fixtures, and explosions.  

 What is my responsibility as a home owner?

     All work done on the internal plumbing system of your home must be performed by a Massachusetts licensed plumber.  Any changes to your plumbing must be approved by your local plumbing inspector and public water supplier as necessary. 

Hose Bib Distribution-

    The ordinary garden hose is the most common way to contaminate the water supply.  This can happen when one end of a common garden hose is attached to an outdoor faucet, and the other end of the hose connects to an aspirator type bottle may be siphoned back into the drinking water , water supply.

    You can easily prevent the possibility of this type of contamination by installing a Hose Bibb vacuum breaker.  This free device is available upon request at our office and simply attaches to a threaded water faucet.

PLEASE COMPLETE

THIS SURVEY

AND RETURN

WITH YOUR PAYMENT

 Name:_______________________

Address:_____________________

Telephone #__________________

Account #____________________

 

Do you have or use any source that could be possible Cross Connection?

 

Please circle possible sources listed below and return.

 

Lawn irrigation 

 

Swimming pool, hot tubs, Jacuzzi’s

 

 Hose connections to chemical

Solution (lawn feed or pesticides)

 

Chemically treated heating systems

 

Utility slop sink 

 

Well connected to household water supply

 

Board of Water Commissioners

Monthly Meetings:

     You are invited to participate in our public forum and voice your concerns about your drinking water. We meet the first Wednesday of every month at 7:00 PM at the Centerville Fire Station, Route 28, Centerville, MA.

     Meetings are subject to change.  Changes will be posted at Town Hall,

Centerville Fire Station, the Water Department Office and our website.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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