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CROTON-ON-HUDSON, N.Y. - Mandatory water restrictions went into effect Wednesday in the Village of Croton, for an undetermined amount of time. Car washing, filling non-circulating swimming pools and watering yards or gardens everyday are prohibited by village ordinance until the restriction is lifted.
"The water usage has increased dramatically, the numbers are actually 1.8 million, 1.9 million gallons per day, so it's taxing our water pumps tremendously," said village manager, Abraham Zambrano. Zambrano said the retrictions were put into place because of pressure on the water pumps, not because there is a water shortage in the village.
On an average day, the village water system may produce about 1 million gallons of water per day, and about 800,000 on colder days. The oldest pumps in the system are nearing 30 -years-old, with an average life expectancy of about 35 to 40 years, said Zambrano.
Life expectancy of water pumps, Zambrano said, "Depends, because we are very careful how we tax it. They certainly do last longer, we are trying to eliminate or reduce any long term repair time-- especially at this time of the year."
The most recent mandatory water restrictions went into effect two years ago. The same restrictions were in place, no washing of cars expect windshields or other essential safety equipment, refilling non-circulating pools of any size is prohibited, and residents were placed on an "odd-even schedule."
In the odd-even schedule, residents with even numbered addresses will be permitted to water their lawns and gardens on even numbered days, and people with odd-numbered addresses will be permitted to water their lawns and gardens on odd-numbered days.
Residents who ignore the restrictions may be subject to a summons from the village.
According to the National Weather Service, the nearest chance of rain is for a 40 percent chance of thunderstorms Saturday night and Sunday.
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