Avalon Restricts Residential Water Usage

AVALON –– In 2007, the borough exceeded monthly and annual water allocations.
Therefore, in an attempt to curtail continued water-use increases this year, outdoor residential restrictions have been enacted.
Effective immediately, these restrictions require residents with odd-numbered addresses to water lawns and gardens on odd dates and those with even-numbered addressed to water on even dates. All outside water usage is banned on the 31st day of each month during the declared “water emergency.”
Citizens are also urged to observe voluntary indoor measures.
The borough’s monthly withdraw permit for its five wells allows 76.8 million gallons per month and 354 million gallons per year from the Atlantic City 800-foot sand aquifer.
The borough exceeded the monthly allocation in July 2007 and exceeded the annual limit by that October, Borough Engineer Thomas Thornton told council at its June 11 meeting.
The overall water use total for 2007 was 6.8 percent over the limit at 378.1 million gallons. Thornton said the borough should immediately impose the water use restrictions to demonstrate to the Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) the borough’s effort to prevent exceeding the limit in the future.
“The last thing we want to do is give the DEP a reason to be punitive because they excel at that,” Council member Nancy Hudanich said.
Thornton recommended a 10-year groundwater projection model to see the effect of the borough’s water usage, pool information and examine possible modifications.
Planning and Zoning Board Chairman Neil Hensel said the borough has passed several ordinances to conserve the water supply in the past four years. Hensel said the borough’s Master Plan needs to address water conservation and the borough should put money into the existing aquifer system and he encouraged council to document all of the borough’s water conservation efforts.
Thornton said there were unusual water uses from June to October 2007 with an “unexplainable increase.” He said the only explanation he could offer is “we had a hot summer.”
The increase was not due to a leak because statistics from the borough’s water company, New Jersey American Water (NJAW), didn’t show a continued elevation in use during winter and there were no spikes in daily usage to indicate a leak, Thornton said.
“It’s surprising and perplexing because we would expect a more gradual increase,” he said.
David Marino, a representative of NJAW, said last October was the hottest on record, which could account for some of the usage spikes. Marino said borough water usage to date is consistent with last year’s usage and further recommended use restrictions.
Council member Charles Covington said the Zoning Board has passed laws “to green up residential spaces.” Council discussed how the demographics of the island have changed where there are larger homes now with more people requiring more water.
Councilman David Ellenberg said it’s important not to take more than is being recharged to avoid saltwater intrusion.
Contact Truluck at (609) 886-8600 ext. 24 or at: ltruluck @cmcherald.com.