Harriman joins Monroe, Woodbury in restricting water use

Harriman - Due to the lack of precipitation during the last eight weeks, the village imposed water restrictions on customers outside the village center on Aug. 25. Department of Public Works Superintendent John Karl said the water level within the sand and gravel aquifer's two pump wells has dropped 10 feet within the last week. He attributed much of the excess water usage to the various construction projects outside of the village proper that use water for their building activities. Karl said the restriction will be lifted when "a lot of rain occurs and when the water level returns to normal." The permitted use of water outdoors is between 9 and 11 a.m. Violators face a $250 fine. The Town of Woodbury and the Village of Monroe also have water restrictions. Woodbury announced restrictions on July 26, while Monroe has a Stage I water restriction since Aug. 5. William S. McClennan, Woodbury's assistant superintendent of Water and Sewer, attributed both well pump malfunction and lack of rain for their water problems. He doesn't expect a return to normal water availability until the end of the summer. Woodbury's water restrictions limit use to 7 to 9 p.m. daily. Monroe's Water Superintendent Alan Prince voiced two problems: lack of rain and an algae bloom on the surface water of Mombasha Lake which interferes with the filtration process. He said the safe yield is 1.5 million gallons per day and usage has been reaching up to 1.65 million gallons a day. Prince anticipates lifting the restrictions sometime in September when he said water usage normally diminishes.