PURPOSE

1.  To assist in managing the water distribution system – ensuring we maintain adequate supply for residential and commercial use.
2. Maintain a certain level of water in the storage tanks to ensure ample pressure for potential use by the Town of Merrimack’s Fire Department.
3. Comply with the New Hampshire Department of Environmental Services (NH DES) Drinking Water and Groundwater Bureau (DWGB) rules and regulations, which require that water providers submit and enforce a “Conservation Plan”. By fulfilling these requirements, MVD is able to receive Federal and State grants and/or loans for any type of water system improvements.

REASON

MVD’s water is supplied from groundwater wells, not surface water such as rivers, lakes, and reservoirs. The New Hampshire Department of Environmental Services (NH DES) Drinking Water and Groundwater Bureau (DWGB) permits each of MVD’s wells to withdraw a maximum specified quantity of water from the ground per minute – this limits the amount of water we are permitted to produce at a time. Limiting the production amount allows water withdrawal from the aquifer in a controlled manner, which helps protect against seasonal fluctuations and aids in maintaining sufficient supply. Irrigation and sprinklers have the highest rate of water consumption and cause substantially increased demands. Increased demand is supplied by three storage tanks; the tanks cannot fill up faster than what we are allowed to produce – having Water Restrictions allows the tanks to replenish and be ready for peak usage demands.

MVD staff adjust production rates to match demand and continuously monitors the water distribution system, the weather conditions & forecasts to determine if additional Watering Restrictions are necessary.

Updates to the Current Watering Restriction will be posted on banners in town, on the sign in front of MVD, on our website at www.mvdwater.org, as well as our Facebook page and on the customer web portal “MyMVD“. Additionally, emails are sent to those who have subscribed to receive notices.

Please be advised – MVD’s watering restrictions are strictly enforced.  Per MVD By-Law 1.D.: The first violation will result in a warning letter. Further violations will result in termination of water service as well as fees (refer to MVD By-Laws 2.D. and 2.J.).

All levels are based upon last number of the service location's street address and the calendar date.

• Street Addresses ENDING with ODD numbers = ODD Calendar Dates.
  (ex: 1234 Main St = Water on the​​ 2nd, 4th, 6th, etc…)

• Street Addresses ENDING with EVEN numbers = EVEN Calendar Dates.
  (ex: 1235 Main St = Water on the 1st, 3rd, 5th, etc…​​)

•  Condo Units – Please contact your Property Management Company for details.

Each Water Restriction Level is listed below. 

• ADDRESS & DATE SCHEDULE
  Note: On the 31st of March, May, July, August, and October, ALL address are permitted to water BETWEEN 5:00 AM-8:00 AM ONLY.

• ODD/EVEN – TWICE PER DAY
  • Mornings: ONLY BETWEEN 5:00 AM-8:00 AM
  • Evenings: ONLY BETWEEN 5:00 PM-8:00 PM
  • i. Washing of streets, driveways, sidewalks, or other impervious areas is prohibited.
  • ii. Washing of cars and boats at a non-commercial facility shall be restricted to odd/even dates by address/calendar dates as described above.

• ODD/EVEN – ONCE PER DAY
  • ONLY BETWEEN 5:00 AM-8:00 AM
  • i. Washing of streets, driveways, sidewalks, or other impervious areas is prohibited.
  • ii. Washing of cars and boats at a non-commercial facility shall be prohibited.

• NO OUTSIDE WATERING USE

i. Hand irrigation of crops used for food by residents at a residential property shall not be restricted.

ii. Water to sustain animal life shall not be restricted.

iii. Commercial Pressure Washing businesses that are registered and in good standing with the State of NH as listed in the records on file with the NH Secretary of State shall not be restricted unless deemed necessary by either the MVD Board of Commissioners, the Superintendent, the Business Manager, or their designee(s).

iv. Despite the authority granted by RSA 41:11-d. water use restrictions shall not apply to uses that obtain water from sources other than the public water supply, unless it can be clearly demonstrated that the use of such water directly affects the public water supply. Note: Municipalities or village districts have the authority to implement lawn watering restrictions in accordance with RSA 41:11-d applicable to all water users (including those using private wells) under state-declared drought conditions.

Any and all update to the current restriction will be posted on banners in town, written on the sign in front of MVD’s office, displayed in multiple places on this website, posted to the MVD Facebook page as well as on the customer web portal “MyMVD”. Additionally, emails are sent to those who have subscribed to receive notices (click here to subscribe)

Reminder: Check your irrigation system after power outages. Power outages may cause irrigation systems revert to a standard/factory default schedule which may not comply with the watering restrictions.

MVD has a year-round Odd/Even Watering Restriction which limits the use of irrigation and sprinklers based on the last number of the service location's street address and the calendar date.

The following are answers to the most frequently asked questions. 

•  Why does MVD restrict usage? Is there a shortage?
  The purpose of MVD's watering restrictions is to assist in managing the water distribution system to ensure we comply with the NHDES DWGB rules and regulations, meet the Merrimack Fire Department requirements, as well as maintain adequate supply for residential and commercial usage. Irrigation and sprinklers have the highest rate of water consumption. If everyone waters every day, the demand will spike. The production rate for MVD's active wells is steady. Peaks in consumption are supplied by three storage tanks. Based on the permits from the New Hampshire Department of Environmental Services (NHDES) Drinking Water and Groundwater Bureau (DWGB), MVD's wells are permitted to withdraw a maximum specified quantity of water from the ground per minute. Additionally, the storage tanks cannot fill up faster than the combined maximum permissible production rate of all producing wells, meaning there is only so much water we are permitted to produce at a time. Therefore, the tanks need to replenish overnight to be ready to meet the demands of peak usage. Furthermore, MVD is required to maintain a certain level of water in the tanks to maintain pressure for potential use by the Town of Merrimack's Fire Department. Watering restrictions allow water withdrawal from the aquifer in a controlled manner, which helps protect against seasonal fluctuations and aids in maintaining sufficient supply. So, the ultimate purpose of MVD's watering restrictions is to assist in managing the water distribution system to ensure we comply with the NHDES DWGB rules and regulations, meet the Merrimack Fire Department requirements, as well as maintain adequate supply for residential and commercial usage. To make certain this is achieved, MVD staff adjust production rates to match demand and continuously monitor the water distribution system, the weather conditions & forecasts to determine if additional watering restrictions or bans are necessary.

• Are there restrictions on the time of day watering is allowed? 
  The Odd/Even Watering Restriction does not restrict the time of day for watering; however, we ask that customers always use discretion and be conservative when watering (ex. water in early morning - there's less evaporation). Note: This is subject to change at the discretion of MVD based upon supply/demand requirements as well as weather-related events, such as drought conditions; LEVEL 1 and LEVEL 2 Restrictions DO include time limitations.

• When does the Odd/Even Restriction end? 
  The odd/even restriction is year-round per our Conservation Plan on file with NHDES.

• Are there any exceptions for new or re-seeded lawns?
  It MAY be possible, but you MUST contact our office, as it depends on multiple variables, such as weather forecasts, water supply, and other factors.

• What about using a hand-held hose to water the lawn? 
  Hand-held hoses are limited to vegetable and flower gardens only.

• What about flower, fruit, & vegetable gardens?
  Yes, hand-hoses are permitted for watering vegetable and flower gardens.

• What about sprinklers for kids?
  If it is the correct odd/even day, yes. If it is not, unfortunately the answer is no. Please understand we are not trying to hinder kids having fun in the hot summer weather, but if we were to permit sprinkler use for locations with kids, we would also have to permit it for those who do not have kids, which would defeat the purpose of the odd/even restrictions.

• What happens if I choose to water every day?
  MVD's watering restrictions are strictly enforced. MVD's field staff monitors and tracks service locations. The first violation will result in a warning letter. Further violations will result in fees, and if violations persist, MVD will terminate the water service. (Refer to MVD By-Law 1.D.)
• What if I got a notice because I accidentally watered on the wrong day? 
  The first notice is a warning, intended to make you aware of the restrictions. While we understand that mistakes happen, we do have to hold all customers accountable to the same By-Laws, and we cannot rescind a notice.
• Why did I get a notice? 
  The notice will provide information as to what the issue was. Typically, the notice is given for watering on the incorrect odd/even scheduled day. If you have an irrigation system, please be sure to check and set it properly - especially after an electrical outage, as this can cause the system to reset to a default watering schedule.

The U.S. Drought Monitor (USDM) is a map that is updated each Thursday to show the location and intensity of drought across the country. The USDM uses a five-category system, ranging from Abnormally Dry (D0, a precursor to drought, not actually drought), to Moderate (D1), Severe (D2), Extreme (D3), and Exceptional (D4) Drought. Drought categories show experts’ assessments of conditions related to dryness and drought, including observations of how much water is available in streams, lakes, and soils compared to usual for the same time of year. The U.S. Drought Monitor began in 2000 and is a collaboration between the National Drought Mitigation Center, U.S. Department of Agriculture, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, and National Aeronautics and Space Administration, who share the weekly author role for the product.  The National Drought Mitigation Center, based at the University of Nebraska, Lincoln, leads the coordination of the weekly U.S. Drought Monitor process and provides the maps, data, and statistics to the public.  

Click HERE to view the current USDM Map for NH.