HADLEY – The town has replaced its voluntary water ban with a mandatory one after several days of excessive water use.
The city is allotted .92 million gallons of water per day, said Hadley Department of Public Works Chief Marlo Warner. If more than that amount is used for five consecutive days, a mandatory ban goes into effect.
Voluntary or mandatory, the ban’s terms are essentially the same. Residents should only use water when it is absolutely necessary. Outdoor watering of lawns and plants is allowed between 5 to 9 a.m. and 6 to 10 p.m., and is restricted to hand-held hoses and buckets.
Automatic sprinkler systems are prohibited and so is the filling of swimming pools.
The ban does not apply to water use for farms and food production.
If people are caught breaking the ban, Warner said the town may issue a warning or fine, but he stressed that it is not trying to penalize residents.
“We’re not gonna go try to fine people right out the gate,” Warner said. “Just err on the side of caution and try to keep an eye on how much water you’re using.”