I applied for a brief and temporary watering exception due to new planting and was denied, even though #1 of the ordinance states watering for the first 21 days of new planting is allowed. Apparently watering exemptions are not allowed from June to September (when else would people apply?) and management reserves the right to change policy without notice, which they did in rejecting my application. I understand there are problems with crumbling infrastructure affecting supply and delivery but I have heard this excuse since moving here nearly 30 years ago. Smart Controllers are costly and seem unnecessary when we are only watering 2 days a week, My system is equipped with a weather sensor which should be sufficient. I’m all for conservation and probably use a fraction of water compared to others, but if we cannot accommodate moderate consumer demand during a non-drought period, then something has to give. We have become so complacent about poor service that it’s becoming business as usual in Ridgewood. We should outsource our water to professionals, rather than have a council of volunteers making decisions on a complicated subject they know nothing about.
