Department of Public Works
Water Division

Regulations, Guidelines, and Helpful Information:

Water Conservation Regulation

The Water Division of the Pepperell Department of Public Works, in order to assure an adequate supply of water for domestic uses and fire protection, hereby adopts the following regulation:

Effective May 1st through October 31st of every year, outdoor watering of any kind is restricted to even numbered days of the month for homes with an even address and odd numbered days for homes with an odd address.
Violations will be subject to a fine.

Should conditions require, the Board of Public Works will declare a water emergency in which case all outdoor water use will be banned. This essential outside water conservation program should be effective enough so as to make a full-mandatory ban unnecessary except under extreme circumstances. All water customers are strongly encouraged to comply with the program to help avoid more extreme measures of water conservation.
Violations will be subject to a fine.

The Pepperell Water Division has implemented a newly-adopted billing tier structure which will significantly increase water bills for those customers whose water use is excessive.

Tiered Billing System

As of January 1, 2008, the Department of Public Works - Water Division uses a tired fee schedule. For customers who consume an average amount of water have water rates on a standard tier. However, customers using high water users will see higher billing rates. MassDEP guidelines require that not more than 65 gallons per person per day be used by all residential customers. This quantity is not much if significant outdoor water use is factored in.

Water Conservation Tips

Indoor Water Conservation Fact Sheet

Kitchen:

• Only use the dishwasher for full loads.Don't wash dishes under continuous running water.  Use wash and rinse basins.
• Use minimal detergent, so you don't have to rinse as much.
• Wash vegetables in a pan of water instead of under a running faucet.  Re-use that water to water household plants.
• Don't use in-sink garbage disposals.  Instead, dispose of food waste in a compost pile.
• Check faucets and pipes for leaks.  One leaky faucet can use up to 4,000 gallons of water per month.
• Install faucet aerators which reduce water usage by up to 60%.
• Thaw frozen food in refrigerator, rather than using running water.

Bathroom:

• Turn off faucet while brushing your teeth, washing your hands or shaving.
• Check toilets for leaks.  Add about 12 drops of food coloring into the tank.  If color appears in the bowl one hour later, there is a leak.
• If purchasing a new toilet, install a low flow model.
• If your toilet is not a low-flow model, install a water saving displacement device in the tank to reduce the amount of water needed to flush.
• Keep showers short and use a low-flow showerhead. A flow restrictor lets you maintain the faucet setting and shut off water at the shower head while soaping and shampooing.
• Turn off all faucets tightly.
• Flush toilet only when necessary.  Avoid using toilet as an ashtray or wastebasket.

Laundry:

• Only run the washing machine for full loads.
• When purchasing a new washing machine, buy a water saving model that can be adjusted to load-size and has a "suds-saving" option. New models use 40 percent less water than older models.

Outdoor Water Conservation Fact Sheet

Lawn:

• Mow lawn to 2 or 3 inches long to provide natural ground shade.Mow often.  This will prevent excessive shock that can cause grass to turn yellow.Keep mower blades sharp and mow only when grass is dry.Leave grass clippings on your lawn.Cut back on fertilizer.If your lawn turns brown during hot spells, it is not dead, but dormant.Lawns require no more than 1 inch per week; apply slowly to prevent runoff.Water lawn and garden in early morning when evaporation is lowest.Avoid watering when windy.Avoid watering the driveway and sidewalks.If you have an automatic sprinkler system, install a rain gauge sensor to your system. Shut off automatic sprinkler system after any substantial rainfall.Use drought-tolerant and native plants. 
• Use mulch around shrubs and trees to save moisture.

Other Outdoor:

• Cover pools and spas when not in use to prevent excess evaporation.Sweep down decks and driveways instead of hosing them down.When washing car, use hose with a shutoff nozzle.  Turn off hose between rinses.Check for leaks in outdoor faucets, pipes or hoses.
• Save rain water to water plants.

Download above information as a PDF

Information About Deduct Meters

Second Water Meters for Outdoor Water Use

As was approved at a public Sewer Rate Hearing on December 12, 2002, the Pepperell Sewer Department will no longer adjust sewer bills for "summer usage". Billings will be made as per the actual water meter readings. All sewer customers are again advised that a second meter for the purpose of determining and deducting outdoor water use from the sewer bill is allowed and these second meters will be read starting in the upcoming billing cycle.

The Water Department must be made aware of the existence of any second meter before the next reading. If a property owner desires to have a second meter installed for this purpose, the Water Department has a policy in place and meters in stock. Please contact the Water Department to notify them that you have a second meter, that you want a second meter installed, or with any questions.

Guidelines for Deduct Meters Installed in the
Town of Pepperell

1. The Pepperell Water Division will sell the deduct meter and meter connections at a price based on actual material costs, including cost of Inspection, 15% Administrative fee and 5% sales tax.
   
2. The Pepperell Water Division will read all Deduct Meters.
   
3. The Homeowner will be responsible for installation of the deduct meter and meter connections. Deduct Meter must be installed in the same area as the main water meter and reader.
   
4. The Pepperell Water Division will install all touch pad or radio read units to the outside of the house.
   
5. The Pepperell Water Division will need to drill a 1/4" hole in the house to run a wire from the deduct meter to the touch pad or radio read unit. The Water Division will use caulking to prevent leaks.
   
6. The Pepperell Water Division shall inspect every deduct meter installation. Installation must be approved by the Pepperell Water Division before readings will be taken. Please remember to have your Deduct Meter inspected immediately after installation. If the Homeowner does not notify the Pepperell Water Division of the deduct meter installation, there will be an inspection fee of $50.00 assessed to the homeowner.
   
7. The Homeowner will be responsible for accessibility and any frost damage to the deduct meter. All rules and regulations applying to water meters in the Pepperell Water Division's Rules and Regulations Handbook will also apply to deduct meters.

Deduct Meters Installation Instructions:

1. The Deduct Meter must be installed after the original water meter (no teeing off before the original water meter allowed). Deduct Meter must be installed near the main meter.
   
2. The Deduct Meter must be at a reasonable height so that the Pepperell Water Division can read the top of the meter.
   
3. The Deduct Meter must be installed horizontal (no vertical installations allowed).
   
4. Meter connections provided by the Pepperell Water Division must be used.

Click here to download the above "Guidelines" as a PDF form
for submittal to the Pepperell Water Division.

Department of Public Works, March 2008

Shovel Out Fire Hydrants After Snow
Help the Fire Department and potentially save yourself and your home

Please shovel around neighborhood Fire Hydrants immediately after snow storms. Without fast, unhindered access to the hydrants and water the Fire Department would lose valuable seconds, even minutes fighting fires. That could mean the difference between quickly controlling a fire and losing everything.