Hadley Standard Operating Procedures for Water Supply Management

The purpose of these procedures is to provide staged water conservation restrictions to meet Hadley’s permit limits. It may also be used in times of drought. The triggers implementing water restrictions are based on the declared drought status by the Massachusetts Emergency Management Agency and/or the permitted withdrawal limit of 0.79 million gallons a day (average daily use) registered with the Department of Environmental Protection (DEP). A trigger point of 0.88 million gallons a day (MGD) during the summer should comply with Hadley’s permitted annual limit and is based roughly on average use based on a high demand summer.

Water restrictions will be lifted or reduced to a lower stage when the state reduces the drought declaration status and/or the cumulative demand is below 0.88 MGD for 10 consecutive days.

Water restrictions are not effective until the public is notified. Notices should remain posted until restrictions are lifted or changed. When restrictions are lifted or reduced to a lower stage, notify the Public and DEP using the same notification methods that were used to declare the existing restrictions. For example, use Stage III notification methods if restrictions are reduced from Stage III to Stage II.

Stage I Voluntary Water Restriction Alert

Water Management Triggers
• Cumulative demands between April 1 and September 30 exceed 0.88 million gallons per day for 5 consecutive days; or
• State declared drought advisory for Hampshire County

Voluntary Restrictions
• Odd/Even Outdoor Watering: Customers are requested to voluntarily minimize outdoor water usage by complying with an odd/even schedule. Those with odd numbered addresses should restrict outdoor watering to odd numbered days and even numbered addresses to even numbered days.
• Filling Swimming Pools: Water users are asked to fill swimming pools before June 1st per Hadley Water Department Regulations.

Public Notification Methods
• Broadcast notice on local cable channel and periodically thereafter.
• Post notice in Town Hall and Public Library and on the Town website.
• Print notice in local newspaper at time restriction takes effect and in the following weekend edition paper.

Stage II Mandatory Water Restriction Alert

Water Management Triggers
• Cumulative demands between April 1 and September 30 exceed 0.88 million gallons per day for 5 consecutive days after Stage I is implemented; or
• State declared drought watch or warning for Hampshire County.

Mandatory Restrictions
• Odd/Even Outdoor Watering: Customers are required to limit outdoor water usage to an odd/even schedule. 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.
• Outdoor Watering Hours: Outdoor watering is only allowed between the hours of 5 A.M. and 9:00 A.M and 6 P.M. and 10:00 P.M.
• Outdoor Watering Method: Outdoor watering is restricted to bucket, can, or hand held hose watering with automatic shutoff nozzle.
• Automatic Sprinkler Use: The use of automatic sprinkler systems is prohibited.
• Car Washing: Car or vehicle washing is prohibited.
• Filling Swimming Pools: The filling of swimming pools is prohibited.

Public Notification Methods
• Broadcast notice daily on local cable channel for first week restrictions take effect and then at least weekly thereafter.
• Post notice at the Town Hall and Public Library and on the Town website.
• Print notice in local newspaper at time restriction takes effect and in the following weekend edition paper.
• Broadcast notice on local radio stations when restrictions take effect.
• Send copy of notification to DEP at the same time the public is notified.

Stage III Emergency Water Restriction Alert

Water Management Triggers
• Cumulative demands between April 1 and September 30 exceed 0.88 million gallons per day for 5 consecutive days after Stage II is implemented; or
• Shutdown of one Mt. Warner Well from contamination or repair; or
• State declared drought emergency for Hampshire County.

Mandatory Restriction
• Outdoor water ban: Outdoor watering is prohibited.

Public Notification Methods
• Broadcast notice daily on local cable channel.
• Post notice at Town Hall and Public Library and on town website.
• Notice printed in local newspapers at time restriction takes effect and in the following weekend edition of the paper.
• Broadcast notice on local television and radio stations when ban takes effect (no later than 48 hours after a DEP declared Water Supply Emergency).
• Send copy of notification to DEP at the same time the public is notified.