By KENNEDY GRIFFIN
(Greenfield, MA) Due to the continued drought conditions, Greenfield is under mandatory water restrictions after Mayor Roxann Wedegartner declared a state of water supply conservation Monday afternoon. Per the advice of the Greenfield Department of Public Works Director Marlo Warner and Water Facilities Superintendent Mark Holley, Mayor Wedegartner is requiring Greenfield residents to limit outdoor watering effective immediately.
“I want to thank everyone for taking these common sense steps to safeguard Greenfield’s water supply and ensure we have enough water for firefighting and other essential needs,” said Mayor Wedegartner. “The voluntary conservation measures we requested a week and a half ago have made a difference, but we need to do more, given the continued dry conditions.”
According to the Mayor’s press release, the water restrictions include:
- Observe odd/even day watering schedules. Outdoor watering by water users with odd-numbered addresses is restricted to odd-numbered days. Outdoor watering by water users with even-numbered addresses is restricted to even-numbered days.
- Refrain from watering between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m.
- Limit watering to a hand-held hose or watering can.
- The use of automatic sprinkler systems is prohibited.
- All car washing, except in commercial car washes, is prohibited.
- Filling or “topping off” pools is banned.
Violating the water restrictions could lead to a $50 fine for the first offense and a $100 fine for further offenses, although DPW Director Marlo Warner says, “If we are made aware of a violation, our first step will be education. We are confident that the vast majority of water users will do their part to conserve; fines will be an absolute last resort.”
Exemptions to the ban have been set by the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection for health and safety, food and fiber production, as well as livestock purposes or to “meet the core function of a business.”