Water ban looming
BY PETER B. BRACE INDEPENDENT WRITER

Every drop of water counts. Wannacomet Water Company considers ban on watering lawns. PHOTO BY ROB BENCHLEY

He would rather not, but if the hot, humid weather continues, Wannacomet Water Company Manager Bob Gardner will initiate a water ban on all forms of outdoor water use, except watering by hand.

Earlier this week, the Water Commission voted to give Gardner the option of issuing a ban in order to keep enough water pressure in the town's water tank on Washing Pond Road to meet peak demand, which runs from this week through the end of the second week of August, and maintain enough pressure for firefighting.

If last weekend, with its beautiful yet hot, sticky weather is any indication of what is to come - Wannacomet pumped a record 3,738,000 gallons - and the island does not get significant rainfall, the water ban, which Gardner said could happen early next week, may last until the next big rainy stretch.

In these first 23 days of July, just .88 of an inch of rain fell, according to Gardner who said that July 2007 saw 2.29 inches and that not since the summer of 2005 has the town pumped so much water.

"No comparison," said Gardner. "The last time you could compare it to was the summer of 2005. "2005 was the previous high of 100,700,000 gallons [for July and into August]. "Aug. 1, it was like someone pulled the plug in the tank and then you couldn't pump any water into it. That was incredible."

Gardner marvels at how big a role weather plays in Nantucket's water usage and said that as last weekend when it was sunny, he is expecting a spike in use today, but not for the rest of the week, which is supposed to be cloudy like Monday and Tuesday, according to the National Weather Service.

"Historically, we're coming into peak times, the first weeks of August," said Gardner. "Certainly, if we can avoid a ban, we'd like to avoid a ban; it's an enforcement nightmare for us."

A water ban means property owners cannot use their automatic irrigation systems and must water by hand using the hose themselves or filling and using watering cans. On July 3 Gardner, with the backing of the water commission, declared a state of water conservation, which is still in effect and requires owners of even numbered properties to use water Monday, Wednesday and Friday, and odd-numbered properties Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday. All outdoor water use is prohibited on Sundays.

Those who violate the water ban could be fined $50 for first offense and $100 a day for following transgressions. While Gardner said he drives around at night soon after he starts a ban to see who is not complying, some people ignore the ban and pay their fines ahead of time rather than risk their lawns browning and their gardens wilting.

"We're going to hold off as long as we can," said Gardner. "My gut tells me it's probably going to be the first of next week. We'll have a lot better idea on Wednesday [today]. "That's the next big irrigation hit. I