by Ryan Trowbridge, originally posted on June 28, 2016

WESTFIELD, MA (WGGB/WSHM) –

Residents and businesses in Westfield are being alerted to a water use restriction that’s now in place.

The city announced Monday that a State of Water Supply Conservation had been declared after a water supply shortage was caused by two city wells being taken off-line.

Those two wells, Municipal Well #7 and #8, were found to be contaminated with organic chemicals known as PFOA and PFOS.

The water use restrictions apply to non-essential use for all customers of the city’s water division.  The restriction will be in place from Monday, June 27 through Friday, September 30.

For those with ODD numbered homes, non-essential water use will only be allowed on Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday before 9 a.m. and after 5 p.m.

For those with EVEN numbered homes, non-essential water use will only be allowed on Wednesday, Friday, and Sunday before 9 a.m. and after 5 p.m.

The city noted that no non-essential water use will be allowed on Mondays.

Some examples of non-essential water use include:

• Washing vehicles, except at a commercial car wash or as necessary for operator safety
• Washing of exterior building surfaces, parking lots, driveways, or sidewalks, expect if needed to apply treatments like paint, pavement, stucco, or cement
• Irrigation of lawns using sprinklers or automatic irrigation systems

The following water uses are not subject to the restrictions:

• Health and safety reasons
• By regulation
• Production of food and fiber
• Maintenance of livestock
• Core functions of a business (for example, irrigation by nurseries to maintain stock, or irrigation at golf courses to maintain tees, greens, and limited fairway watering)

Water use that continues to be allowed:

• Irrigation to establish a new lawn and new plantings during the month of September
• Irrigation of lawns, gardens, flowers, and ornamental plants by means of a hand-held hose, soaker hose, or drip irrigation