Ridgewood July 27, 2011 THE VILLADOM TIMES II • Page 3 Ridgewood Water: restrictions due to drought, heat by John Koster The Ridgewood Water Company has announced its plans to institute further watering restrictions due to the intense heat wave following two weeks with very little rain. The company recently announced an odd/even watering schedule, which was updated at press time. Late last week, Ridgewood Water declared Stage II restrictions, which will remain in effect until further notice. Stage II restrictions limit irrigation to alternate days using the odd/even system, and do not allow irrigation of any kind (including irrigation with a hand-held hose) on Mondays. Irrigation of properties with odd-numbered addresses is allowed on odd-numbered dates and irrigation of properties with even-numbered addresses is allowed on even-numbered dates. “The present high temperatures, no rain, and heavy water use are causing storage levels to drop to a point where there is concern as to the availability of water for customer use and fire protection,” Ridgewood Water Director Frank Moritz told the mayors and administrators of Glen Rock, Midland Park, and Wyckoff at a special daytime meeting on July 20. Those municipalities are served by Ridgewood Water Company as is the Village of Ridgewood. The exact extent of the restrictions was not discussed at the meeting, which included input from the other towns and an explanation of Ridgewood’s situation. Because Ridgewood’s system that depends on artesian wells and tank storage for water supply and water pressure, the 74 inches of snow last winter and the impressive amount of spring rain did not have the same impact that snow and water would have had on reservoir-fed systems. “There’s nothing I can say that isn’t going to make someone unhappy,” Frank Moritz said after the meeting. Wyckoff Township Administrator Robert Shannon suggested that Ridgewood should have communicated the existing restriction -- odd-even days for sprinklers -- before moving to a more stringent restriction. Strongly supported by Wyckoff Mayor Kevin Rooney, Shannon said that all reasonable methods should be used to warn the other three towns on the Ridgewood Water Company grid before any penalties are imposed. Ridgewood Water officials noted that residents who violated restrictions could not merely be fined but could have their water service shut off -- a threat that Wyckoff officials told them was gratuitous, while arguing that the odd-even restrictions had not been adequately publicized. “I can’t understand how they can keep raising the water rates and still not be able to Children ages five through 14 are invited to experience sports from around the world with the Ridgewood Parks and Recreation’s Multi-Sports Camp. The camp will be held Aug. 8 through 12 at Maple Park. Instruction and play may include badminton, baseball, basketball, bocce, cricket, net ball, field hockey, flag football, lacrosse, hand ball, floor hockey, discovery games, Olympic games, parachute, pillo polo, soccer, softball, tennis, touch rugby, and volleyball. A full day will run from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. for eight to 14 year olds, offering an Multi-Sports Camp offered avoid watering restrictions every summer,” Wyckoff Mayor Rooney said at a work session the day before the meeting. Ridgewood Water has always argued that the high quality of the company’s water more than compensates for the rate hikes, which place Ridgewood about equal to those surrounding communities with independent water companies or service from United Water. Opponents of the rate increases -- including the municipal governments of Glen Rock, Midland Park, and Wyckoff -- have joined forces to take the Ridgewood Water Company to court because they charge that money collected as part of the water bills is used to pay for police and fire department salaries in Ridgewood -- services not directly related to the delivery of water. The suit has not yet been resolved, and all sides declined detailed comments due to litigation. “We could use some rain,” Glen Rock Mayor John van Keuren said. introduction to 15 sports. The cost is $189. A half-day program is available for five to seven year olds, from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. and offers 10 sports. The cost is $169. Campers will receive a USSI shirt and certificate. For further information, contact the US Sports Institute at (908) 534-5305 or visit www.ussportsinstitute.com. Register online at www.ridgewoodnj. net/communitypass or in person or by mail at The Stable, 259 North Maple Avenue. Registration forms are on the recreation homepage at www.ridgewoodnj.net. Call (201) 670-5560 for details.