Mandatory Odd/Even Watering Restrictions Set For Monmouth, Ocean

NEW JERSEY — Given the recent spell of hot, dry weather in Monmouth and Ocean counties, New Jersey American Water is now requiring that customers there restrict their outdoor water use to odd/even days until further notice to help ease the demand on water supplies.

The company previously issued voluntary guidelines for odd/even water use.

“The recent extreme heat wave has prompted customers to increase their water usage significantly over the last week, and while we did previously request voluntary odd/even outdoor watering, we are continuing to see significant demands on the system that now require us to make this a mandatory order,” said Carmen Tierno, senior director of Operations, in a news release from the company on Thursday.

“We are putting this restriction in place to support our ability to continue to provide water and fire protection services to our customers,” he said in a statement from the company.

Customers are being notified via the company’s emergency notification system, alerting
them to practice odd/even watering now to help the company manage a finite supply of
water.

New Jersey American Water, which primarily provides the water to customers in Monmouth County, but also services part of Lakewood, issued the alert Thursday.

New Jersey American Water said visitors and summer residents along Monmouth and Ocean county beaches have put an extra demand on the system.

The heat wave in New Jersey is expected to continue through the weekend, with temperatures reaching the high 90s or even 100, forecasters say.

Odd/even guidelines are:

• Outdoor water use on odd-numbered days of the month if your street address is an odd number.
• Outdoor water use on even-numbered days of the month if your street address is an even number.
• Water early or late in the day to minimize evaporation.

Exceptions are:

• Watering of new sod or seed if daily watering is required. (Note: it is recommended that any planting of new sod or seed that has not already taken place be delayed until the fall).
• Use of private wells for irrigation
• Commercial uses of outdoor water, such as for nurseries, farm stands, power washing, plumbing, athletic fields, and car washes.
• Watering of athletic fields.

Additional tips and information on wise water use are available on New Jersey
American Water’s website under Water and Wastewater Information.

The company will issue a follow up communication when this restriction is able to be lifted, it said.