Dry weather conditions have driven water usage up 25-33% above normal levels for July. The July 2010 average daily use was 403,000 gallons and on Monday, July 9, utility customers used 550,000 gallons. Greg Dennings, Water Department Superintendent, reports that “ our system of wells ordinarily delivers about 250,000-400,000 gallons per day.
The wells can supply upwards of 800,000 gallons for a single day if they are run continuously, but that does not allow the wells sufficient time to recharge. We’ve been dry for longer than we were last year when we began the Water Use Advisory in July.”
Village Administrator Wayne York reported that seven test wells have been drilled in the last two years at various locations with only marginal success. “The EPA approval process for new public water wells can take as long as six months or more, so even if we have a new well site today, it would take until the following summer before it could be put in service. The Watershed Fountain and automatic irrigation systems in Lock One Park will be cut back by at least 50% in order to save water and to set the right example. The only watering that New Bremen will do will use either canal water or water collected from the final discharge at the wastewater treatment plant. Those locations will be the newly seeded Rotary Sunshine Playground in Bremenfest Park and various trees around town. If residents see our tanker trailer in use, it is not carrying drinking water. Residents are further advised to postpone fertilizer applications that require watering until normal rainfall resumes”, York said.
The WATER USE ADVISORY will continue until water usage returns to normal levels.
Please contact 419-629-3423 with further questions about this WATER USE ADVISORY.