Duxbury Faces Water Conservation Challenges, Considers New Irrigation Regulations
Town Exceeds Permitted Usage, Risks DEP Enforcement
DUXBURY - December 2 - Duxbury officials are grappling with water conservation challenges as the town has significantly exceeded its permitted water usage, pumping 538 million gallons in 2023 compared to the allowed 448 million gallons.
The issue came to light during a recent Selectboard meeting where officials discussed potential new regulations for irrigation systems to reduce water usage and comply with state requirements.
Mark Cloud, Water and Sewer Superintendent, revealed the extent of the problem. "We're permitted for 488 million gallons, 448 million gallons a year. 2023, we pumped 538 million gallons," he said.
Cloud also noted that Duxbury's current usage is 83 gallons per day per capita, well above the Department of Environmental Protection's (DEP) requirement of 65 gallons or less.
The excessive water usage has put Duxbury at risk of potential enforcement actions from the DEP. "It's just a matter of time before the DEP makes an enforcement against the town for not taking these steps," Cloud warned.
To address these concerns, the Selectboard is considering new regulations for irrigation systems. The proposed rules would prohibit new systems from connecting to town water and require moisture sensors on all automatic irrigation systems.
René Read, Town Manager, explained the rationale behind the proposed regulations. "We understand the importance of maintaining the public water supply for the Town of Duxbury while maximizing the conservation of our water resources, providing quality water to our customers, and dependable fire flow to our residents," he said.
The proposed regulations would apply to new irrigation systems or expansions of existing systems. Existing systems connected to town water would be grandfathered, but owners would be encouraged to reduce water usage.
Brian Glennon, a Selectboard member, clarified the intent of the regulations. "The idea is to get that volume off of the town's books so that we're not drawing more water through new systems or expanded systems," he said. "You can still water your grass, but you need to dig your own well."
However, some board members expressed concerns about the effectiveness and enforcement of the proposed regulations. Amy MacNab questioned how the town would enforce the rules, especially for existing systems or those installed without proper permits.
The board also discussed the potential inclusion of requirements for moisture sensors or similar technologies on all irrigation systems, as recommended by the DEP.
Sheila Sgarzi, DPW Director, emphasized the importance of such measures. "DEP wants to see this. It is best practices to be installing these moisture sensors," she said.
The Selectboard decided to postpone voting on the regulations to allow for further refinement of the proposal. They plan to revisit the issue at their December 16 meeting.
In addition to the irrigation regulations, officials discussed the need for a new water rate study, which is expected to be completed by early February. The study may lead to increased water rates, potentially incentivizing conservation.
Mark Cloud suggested that higher water rates could naturally lead to reduced usage. "There were a lot of brown lawns. They just shut the irrigation system off. It was costing about $3,000 to irrigate your lawn in the summer," he said, referring to the impact of rate increases in Scituate.