To some extent, local South Fork governments are leading by example during what the Suffolk County Water Authority called a water emergency. However, there is more that public agencies could do to limit their own consumption.
The water authority says there is enough water over all; the problem is when the system is drawn upon and by how much. Early morning irrigation, notably for grass lawns, reduces the amount of water in the authority’s tanks, and when the tanks get close to empty, pressure throughout the system falls. Low water pressure can hurt firefighting efforts because hydrants draw on the same supply as do houses — and lawns. The water authority says it’s a problem of scale: There simply is too little capacity to meet the simultaneous draining of its tanks to water grass. Peak demand reached 520,000 gallons per minute multiple times this summer, the authority said, pushing the system to its limits.
In July, the water authority issued a stage 1 alert, urging its customers to stop all unessential uses. But the warning came with a qualification, that “necessary” lawn watering could continue as long as it was scheduled every other day by odd and even house number. “We risk widespread pressure drops that could leave firefighters without the water they need in an emergency. This is all about public safety,” it said in a new release. It lifted the alert about a week ago, but the long-term impact of grass irrigation remains a concern.
Though generally humid, Long Island summers tend to have low rainfall. Without enough water, most kinds of mowed grass take a break and turn brown. As a symbol of the good life, a lush, green lawn is thought of as essential by many residents and visitors. The water authority continues to implore customers not to water lawns between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m., when the evaporation rate peaks. Long-term forecasts continue to call for hot, dry conditions, meaning demand will remain high unless customers take the restrictions seriously, it said.
For the curious, someone from the water authority is scheduled to speak at Rogers Memorial Library in Southampton on Tuesday at 6 p.m. The event will be live-streamed as well and will be a good opportunity for residents and public officials alike to refocus on a problem that is not going away.