AMHERST — Water use in Amherst is dropping since mandatory and voluntary bans took effect over the past five weeks.
But town officials said this week they will not know how well these measures are protecting the municipal water supply until University of Massachusetts students return this weekend.
Move-in day traditionally is one of the biggest water-use days in town, and last year was no exception, with a dramatic increase in water use the Saturday of Labor Day weekend, town officials said.
Town Manager Paul Bockelman said the town is closely watching what happens this weekend.
“It’s something we’ll be monitoring and meeting with people weekly,” Bockelman said.
He said officials already are discussing contingencies with the Massachusetts Emergency Management Agency.
Even with no significant rainfall forecast, Bockelman said the hope is to be able to maintain the water supply with reduced usage.
Assistant Town Manager David Ziomek, who Aug. 19 implemented the mandatory ban on all outdoor water use, said the voluntary and mandatory steps are paying dividends in protecting the water supply that has been affected by the extended drought.
“It is helping,” Ziomek said.
He presented a chart to the Select Board on Monday showing that 3.6 million gallons of water were being used per day on July 25, when the voluntary ban was put in place, and 2.8 million gallons of water were being used per day when the mandatory ban went into effect. After those bans were put in place, water use subsequently dropped below the daily average between 2010 and 2015.
“These are very good signs.” Ziomek said. “What this is telling us is people are helping us.”
In July, the town used 400,000 more gallons of water per day than the 10-year average, or 3.3 million gallons compared to 2.9 million gallons.
Ziomek said residents, businesses, Amherst and Hampshire colleges, and UMass have all helped in cutting water consumption. UMass is the biggest user, taking between 45 and 50 percent of all water pumped.
Outreach coordinated with Department of Public Works Superintendent Guilford Mooring included sending emails and using the reverse 911 system to notify residents.
“The situation is serious, but we’re trying to manage it weekly,” Ziomek said.
Scott Merzbach can be reached at smerzbach@gazettenet.com.
