LIVERMORE FALLS — The Livermore Falls Water District and Jay Village Water District superintendents are asking customers to conserve as much water as possible because of concerns for the ongoing drought conditions.

According to the U.S. Geological Survey and Palmer Drought Index, the drought is going to last and there is no end in sight, said Livermore Falls Water District Superintendent Doug Burdo.

The Livermore Falls district serves customers in Livermore Falls and part of Jay, including the Spruce Mountain schools. The Jay Village district serves customers in Jay but buys its water from the Livermore Falls district.

The North Jay Water District buys water from Wilton and that source is doing OK, said Mike Wells, superintendent of both Jay Village and North Jay districts.

Drought conditions are wreaking havoc on water levels.

“It’s bad. It’s bad everywhere,” said Burdo on Friday.

Advertisement

Since mid-August, the district has been transferring water from its secondary water source, Parker Pond in Jay, to its primary water source, Moose Hill Pond in Livermore Falls, to stabilize water levels.

When they started to transfer water, Moose Hill Pond was down 27 inches, or about 75.6 million gallons, Burdo said. An inch equates to 2.8 million gallons.

“Since that time, we only gained an inch,” he said. “The reason is we are taking out as much as we are putting in.”

Burdo estimated Parker Pond is down about 5 feet.

The main issue is the cost of transfer pumping, which is about $1,000 a week. The 100 horsepower pump is running 24 hours a day.

The Livermore Falls district has one million gallons of water in its storage tank in Livermore Falls and 310,000 gallons in its Jay tank. The main reason for that water is fire protection.

Advertisement

“Currently there is not a threat to any fire protection,” Burdo said. “My concern is I want to get the people, the residents, to conserve water on a voluntary basis.”

He has talked to Wells and he is on board with this, Burdo said.

The main focus on water conservation is no irrigation, meaning watering of plants in the yard, and no recreational use, such as for a pool.

“My take is most people are on board with this,” he said. “We are asking for all hands on deck as far as conserving as much water as possible.”

dperry@sunmediagroup.net


Only subscribers are eligible to post comments. Please subscribe or login first for digital access. Here’s why.

Use the form below to reset your password. When you've submitted your account email, we will send an email with a reset code.