Posted on

Readers say too Much Non Compliance with Water Restrictions

sprinklers_vets_fielf_theridgewoodblog

file photo

The new arrivals in my neighborhood, pus some here 10-15 years, don’t play by the rules and don’t care, they sprinkler water every day, morning daylight or night time in the cloak of darkness, they are only concerned that they have a nice green lush lawn. They didn’t care about stage 1 restrictions, let alone stage 2, even tho other neighbors mentioned water rules to them, it rolls off their shoulder and it is not important enough and ignored. Yes, they sprinkler water on Monday when no one is to. Shame on them.

…I never got a reverse robo call on water sprinkling rules, used to, but in the know, do follow the rules, use hand held hose and have burned out areas of lawn, it doesn’t grow – no water, no rain, dry hot season, and have the landscaper skip grass cuts at times.

…The town should have sent a postal notice to all customers, as they did in past years, as there are many new residents. Education and respect for our water resources could be in flyer form, to inform people of the artesian well water here, and that its not from a resevoir. They don’t know, don’t care, think its an endless supply. Parents should set an example for their kids, and not break rules – saying its ok to do so. If not, they could take their bad habits and move back to the city.

I agree with the above and also see neighbors breaking the rules. Besides grass is not a native ground cover and shouldn’t be the main cover of yard space anyway: requires too much water, and pesticides, herbicides to maintain. Many articles have appeared on this subject including a great one in the Ridgewood News from former Eco Ed Schwarz.

Send an email with the offenders address to dscheibner@ridgewoodnj.netHe is the boss at ridgewood water. When they are doing enforcement they can see it and do something .Police used to enforce but just like all jnight parking they won’t do anything unless a complaint is called in

Posted on

Village of Ridgewood : Water Restrictions Update and Street Signs Disappearing

Sprinkler watering the lawn

Water Restrictions Update and Street Signs Disappearing – August 24

Dear Resident,

I hope your summer has been enjoyable and relaxing. I’d like to update you on two separate issues – water conservation status and stolen street signs.

I would like to thank residents for their overall compliance with Stage II water restrictions. It has eased the operational difficulties of the overall water system to a degree but weekends are still challenging the limits of system capacity. I know that some of you have commented to me about stricter enforcement and I have indicated that we have been strengthening enforcement. As an update, enforcement has included warnings to hundreds of violators and 16 summonses have been issued to repeat violators. One recommendation that I have received from a resident is that we should mandate the use of rain sensors; we currently mandate their use on newly installed sprinkler systems but not existing. Use of rain sensors is a good conservation method and we do recommend their use.

We cannot predict with certainty when we will be able to ease restrictions but the public will be informed through the usual channels when we do. We encourage residents to check our website at water.ridgewoodnj.net for the most up-to-date information.

Once again street signs are disappearing from local streets. The occurrence of this seems to increase right before colleges begin. At this moment we have 37 missing signs! It used to be that just the signs were stolen but now we are also seeing a new tendency to also uproot the pole. Clearly from a taxpayer perspective this is costly; potentially even more important is the impact it may have on our timeliness to respond to medical and other emergencies if a public safety worker is not totally familiar with our streets. I think you will agree with me that this is totally unacceptable. This is a criminal offense and if we find anyone in possession of Ridgewood street signs we will prosecute them. From now through September 15th, we will have an amnesty program where we will provide an opportunity to anyone who is currently in possession of Ridgewood signs to return them to the Police at Village Hall without facing criminal charges. I appreciate your help in getting this issue resolved.

Have a great rest of your summer…….

Best,

Roberta Sonenfeld

Village Manager

201-670-5500, ext. 203

Posted on

Rain sensors should be mandated for irrigation systems

ridgewood water

file photo by Anne Loving

AUGUST 14, 2015    LAST UPDATED: FRIDAY, AUGUST 14, 2015, 7:29 AM
THE RIDGEWOOD NEWS

Time to mandate rain sensors for irrigation systemsTo the Editor:On Aug. 6, patrons of Ridgewood Water received the dreaded robo-call announcing stage II watering restrictions. At this writing, less than a week later, sprinklers and other irrigation systems may be used only two days a week.

Home and other property owners who have spent time, effort and money to make their places green may watch their investment wither as green turns to brown. A simple way to conserve water would require an update to a water department regulation: mandate the use of a rain sensor with every existing irrigation system as well as new ones.

These small, unobtrusive, inexpensive monitors tell the sprinkler system not to turn on when the gauge contains a certain level of water. Avoiding wasted sprinkling during or just after a rainfall helps the homeowner as well by saving money, especially as water rates rise.

Rain sensors are mandated by Ridgewood Water only for newly installed irrigation systems, with older systems grandfathered. With stage II in force and the specter of stage III looming, the time for grandfathering is past. A deadline of April 2016 would be reasonable, after which a warning could be given and then fines levied for noncompliance.

Ridgewood Water asks residents to alert their neighbors who flout watering restrictions. Passing the buck to neighbors for oversight on this issue is unrealistic. It has to come from the top.

My own story includes a cautionary tale. After years of observing other people’s sprinklers working in the rain, and having done too much planting to continue hauling sprinklers around or water the yard with a hose, I finally had a sprinkler system installed about six years ago. As required, a rain sensor was included. I congratulated myself upon being an environmentally aware and frugal citizen.

One night last summer I happened to be awake at dawn, when my sprinkler system turned on – to my surprise, since it was raining. When this happened a second time, I called my current sprinkler company (having dropped the original one for other reasons) to request a visit. The technician found that the sensor had been installed under a small overhang. It had never worked. Neither company had ever checked.

I had the sensor moved. It works now. But for years I was an unwitting scofflaw.

Moral: even those with a rain sensor in place would do well to make sure it is actually working. But first, let’s make sure everybody has one.

Marcia Ringel

Ridgewood

Posted on

Village Announces Stage 1 Watering Restrictions Begins June 1

sprinklers_vets_fielf_theridgewoodblog

file photo 2014

May 15,2015

Ridgewood NJ, Stage I watering restrictions begin on June 1st. Odd-numbered addresses may irrigate only on Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays. Even numbered addresses may irrigate only on Wednesdays, Fridays, and Sundays. Irrigation using a hand-held hose is allowed at any time. Details are available on the Ridgewood Water website, water.ridgewoodnj.net.

During the summer months, water use increases dramatically due to lawn and garden irrigation. Ridgewood Water strives to provide the maximum allowable amount of water. The supply is sometimes exceeded by the demand during hot and dry weather The excess demand lowers the reserves in storage tanks, jeopardizing the ability to fight fires..

June 1st – Stage 1 Water restrictions began and will continue to the end August.

Explanation of WATER RESTRICTIONS:

Stage I, Stage II, Stage III and Stage IV emergency regulations shall become effective upon declaration of each stage by the Village Manager of the Village of Ridgewood. Stage I shall become effective without such declaration on June 1 of each year and shall remain in effect through August 31 of that year except for any period where Stage II, Stage III, or Stage IV emergency regulations are declared. Exceptions to the user restrictions, such as for irrigation of newly planted lawns or shrubs, for cleaning cars or houses, for filling swimming pools or other such outdoor water usage, shall be determined by the Village Manager of the Village of Ridgewood or a Village of Ridgewood employee designated by the Village Manager. Use of any private well shall be exempt from these regulations, provided that said well is first registered with the local Health Authority.

Stage I Moderate Mandatory restriction of irrigation to Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays for properties with odd-numbered addresses and Wednesdays, Fridays, and Sundays for properties with even-numbered addresses. Irrigation using a hand-held hose shall be allowed at any time. No irrigation shall be allowed on Mondays except for the use of a hand held hose.

II Severe Mandatory restriction of irrigation to Tuesdays and Saturdays for properties with odd-numbered addresses and Wednesdays and Sundays for properties with even-numbered addresses. No irrigation shall be allowed on Mondays, Thursdays, or Fridays except for the use of a hand held hose. Irrigation using a hand held hose shall be allowed at any time.

III Pending/Critical Mandatory restriction of irrigation to the use of a hand held hose on Tuesdays and Saturdays for properties with odd-numbered addresses and Wednesdays and Sundays for properties with even-numbered addresses. No irrigation of any kind shall be allowed on Mondays, Thursdays, or Fridays.

IV Critical Irrigation is prohibited at any time. Exceptions for irrigation using a hand held hose may be allowed under conditions prescribed by the Village Manager of the Village of Ridgewood.

Water Department details at water.ridgewoodnj.net