Due to an ongoing drought drying up the region, the Town of Peterborough has instituted a voluntary water ban in the hopes that residents are more economical about their water consumption.
The announcement was made on the municipal website last week, asking residents to delay the need for mandatory restrictions.
“Residents are encouraged to use discretion for things such as washing vehicles and running irrigation systems for lawn and garden care,” the post said.
Each person who decreases his or her water use makes a difference, Selectboard Chair Ed Juengst said.
If the weather and consumption trends continue, the next step would be punishable rules, according to Juengst.
Residents can afford to limit their outdoor water use. For some businesses, that is not an option, and the drought is hurting.“If we stop using water right now, we go out of business,” Matt Gifford, co-owner of Rosaly’s Farmstand, said. “It’s pretty black and white.”
Gifford and field manager Linda Estabrook are trying to be efficient and recycle their water because of the finite supply.
“Drip irrigation is the most efficient way,” Estabrook said. “You don’t even see the water while it’s watering.”
That method works by watering plants via an underground drip system, instead of spraying plants and losing water to evaporation, but some items need to be watered by hose.
“In most years we get enough natural rain, it doesn’t really come to this,” Gifford finished.
Lack of rain is the bottom line, so authorities are keeping an eye on the forecast during the ban.
“We hope people buy into it,” Juengst said. “We’re really hoping for rain, is what we’re hoping for.”