Newmarket Declares Stage-3 Water Emergency

(Newmarket, NH) - Residents of Newmarket are being urged to conserve water use after the town declared a Stage-3 Water Emergency, which imposes some limits on usage.

Newmarket

The declaration followed a large withdrawal from town wells over the weekend. While the wells have rebounded, they are not at the levels they need to be.

Town officials remind residents of the restrictions imposed by the Emergency declaration.

In accordance with Chapter 14-26 of the Newmarket Town Ordinances, A Stage 3 Water Supply Shortage restricts those on municipal water to the following:

Each address is restricted to watering lawns to two days per week between the hours of 5AM to 8AM and 6PM to 9PM on the following schedule:

Odd Numbered Addresses....................... Mondays and Wednesdays

Even Numbered Addresses......................... Tuesdays and Thursdays

No lawn watering will be allowed on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays. Hand-held hoses may be used for flower and vegetable gardens without hour and day restrictions.
No washing or cleaning streets, driveways, sidewalks or other impervious areas is prohibited. Washing of cars and boats, except at a commercial facility, shall be prohibited.

Properties found in violation of this order will be warned first of their violation, but will be fined $100 for their second violation, and $250 for subsequent violations and water service will be discontinued. A $75 fee will be charged to reconnect the service.

Properties that receive their water from private wells are encouraged to conserve, but are not impacted by these regulations.

Currently, the Town's available water supply is sufficient to meet the Town's daily needs, and raising the Water Supply Shortage to a level 3 will help prevent having to shut down one well if sufficient precipitation does not occur.

If we do not improve shortly, we will have to put Stage 4 restrictions in place. This would require a ban on all outside water use.

If you have any questions or for more information, you can contact the Town Department of Environmental Services at (603)659-3093 or visit the Town's website atwww.newmarketnh.gov.

Filed Under: emergency, Newmarket, water shortage

Categories: Local News, News