Township Lifts Outdoor Water Use Restrictions

Mandatory water restrictions the Manchester Township water uility imposed Aug. 11 have been lifted, after the source of a surge in usage -- a leaky water main -- was repaired.

The outdoor water usage restrictions had applied to residents in the eastern portions of the township, along Route 37, portions lying east of Route 37, and those east of the borough of Lakehurst and the Lakehurst Naval Air Engineering and Warfare Center. But they were lifted Aug. 15, according to a letter posted on the township’s website. The letter encouraged residents to continue to conserve water.

Donald Somerset, director of the township’s utilities department, said via email the restrictions were imposed in response to demand approaching record levels.

“We generally experience our highest demands for water during the months of July and August, so high demands at this time of year are not unexpected,” Somerset said.

But they quickly realized the rise in demand was sudden, leading workers to suspect there was a leak.

The utility “ultimately discovered a leak in the water main located in the wooded area behind the guard rail along Ocean County Route 571 (Ridgeway Road) near the Toms River. Once repaired, water demands lessened and the watering restrictions were lifted,” Somerset said.

The utility announced the restrictions by phone notifications and news release to media organizations. At Monday’s Township Council meeting, residents complained that when the restrictions were lifted they were never notified.

“I found out by looking at the website,” resident Sandy Kaufman said, adding she felt phone calls should have gone out again.

Council members told residents they would work to resolve notification issues in the future.

Somerset, by email, said the water utility notified media sources and posted the letter on the township’s website, as well as sending the announcement to the senior communities affected by the restrictions.

“Through these measures and by residents passing along the message by word of mouth to their friends and neighbors, we generally find our messages reach our customers within a relatively short time span. Although we deliver messages of an urgent or emergency nature through our reverse 911 system, we do not use that system to deliver messages of lesser urgency or importance, such as the subject announcement,” Somerset said.