The Board of Water Commissioners have set the FY2019 water rates.   The new rate schedule is available online and includes an 26.1% increase in the water rate.  The rates are based on the budget approved at Town Meeting in May 2018 and the water use forecast for FY2019.

The rate increase is due to increases in the Water Department's reserves which have been increased in anticipation of bond costs for the Water Treatment Plant Project and short-term borrowing for capital projects.

Below is a list of violations of the Mandatory Outdoor Water Use Restriction implemented on JUnen 18, 2018.  The Water Restriction By-law allows for the non-criminal disposition of violations starting with a written warning, second offense is a $50 fine, third offense is a $100 fine and fourth and subsequent offense a $300 fine.  Each day of violation constitutes a separate offense.  Because some watering is allowed we do not issue violations based on wet pavement or grass.  We must witness or a citizen willing to testify must witness the actual use of water that is in violation of the bylaw.  If the property owner appeals the violation or fails to pay the fine then the issue is forwarded to criminal court.

The Topsfield Water Department has implemented a Mandatory Outdoor Water Use Restriction effective June 18, 2018 due to very low Ipswich River stream flow.

Outdoor water use is restricted to hand-held implements only before 9 AM and after 5 PM.  The use of irrigations systems at any time is prohibited.  The restrictions apply to all water users including public water customers and private well owners.

In addition to curtailing outdoor use the Water Department encourages the following conservation measures:

• Run your dishwasher and clothes washer only when full.
• Fix any leaks around the house.
• Install water efficient toilets, faucets and shower heads.
• Keep a pitcher of water in the refrigerator, rather than running the faucet.
• Consider replacing water intensive lawns with a xeriscape (low water demand) flower garden.

The mandatory restrictions will be in effect until further notice but typically run through the end of September.  Our water withdrawal permit issued by the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection requires the implementation of this restriction when Ipsich River average daily flow at the Ipswich Gauge Station falls below 52.5 cubic feet per second for three consecutive days.

Streamflow based restrictions typically start in early July and last through the end of September.

The 2017 Water Quality Report is available online.  Copies are available at the Water Department Office.  Please visit our water quality website http://watertesting.topsfieldpublicworks.org for more water testing results.

May 1st marks the beginning of the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection's summer regulatory period. Our water withdrawal permit requires us to implement outdoor water use restrictions when Ipswich River stream flow falls below certain levels from May 1st through September 30th. The permit also restricts the amount of water we can pump during this period to an average of 0.55 million gallons per day.

Stream flow is measured at the United States Geological Survey's gauge station located just downstream of the dam near Foote Brothers Canoe Rental in Ipswich. 

A voluntary outdoor water use restriction is required if the average daily stream flow at the Ipswich Gauge drops below 70 cubic feet per second for three consecutive days. If the average daily stream flow continues to drop and falls below 52.5 cubic feet per second for three consecutive days then a mandatory restriction is required. The restrictions stay in effect until stream flow recovers and is above the trigger point for at least 10 consecutive days.

The Town appropriated $10.4 million on June 20, 2017 for the construction of a water treatment plant and associated piping.  Substaintial completion of the project is expected in January 2019 which will be followed by several weeks of testing.  We're planning on using the plant to produce water by the end of February 2019.  Progress updates will be posted on a regular basis.

June Update: The process waste tank was installed along with some of the suction piping in the pipe gallery.  The interior concrete block filler was applied.  The basement stairs were installed.  The exterior block and plywood were water-proofed.  The plant was connected to the 12" raw water main.  The footings and frost walls for the aeration tower were installed along with the piping for the tower.

Water customers will receive a copy of the updated Manganese Drinking Water Advisory notice in the mail shortly.  The Water Department instituted an advisory in 2013 due to manganese contamination.  Recent tests have indicated on of our sources exceeds the MassDEP limit of 300 micrograms per Liter of manganese.

We conduct hundreds of water quality tests each year. Results are now available on our Water Quality Site which includes information about which water sources are in use. The site has been under development for several years and more functionality will be added as time permits.