Vineland lifts drought water use limits, supply capacity normal again

Joseph P. Smith, Vineland Daily Journal
·2 min read

VINELAND — The municipal water system reports its supply is back to safe levels, and likely will stay in normal ranges through the rest of the year.

Cooling temperatures, recent storms, and nearly seven weeks of customer restrictions combined to end use restrictions, which were imposed on July 29, effective as of Sept. 8. Currently, some city wells are even shutting down at night because of decreased demand.

Vineland Municipal Utilities Director John Lillie announced the lifting of limits on Thursday. Storage tanks are back to capacity and pumping capacity is back to normal levels, he said.

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“We would like to thank our residents and businesses in Vineland that stepped up and made a meaningful effort to reduce their water consumption over the past month,” Lillie said. “Their hard work and cooperation, combined with the recent rainfall and moderating temperatures which gave lawns and gardens some relief, has allowed us to reach storage capacity in our elevated tanks and normalize pumping capacity in the system.”

However, the city is encouraging users to cut consumption where possible because of continuing drought conditions in much of South Jersey.

A 2-million-gallon elevated water storage tank at Oak and Main roads in Vineland. (Photo: Deborah M. Marko)
A 2-million-gallon elevated water storage tank at Oak and Main roads in Vineland. (Photo: Deborah M. Marko)

During the restrictions, outdoor water use was limited to two days a week for properties with even-number addresses and two other days for other addresses. Watering also was limited to two, three-hour periods daily and to 30 minutes in length.

The city has 10 wells it draws on for potable water.

The Municipal Utilities Customer Service office can be contacted with questions at (856) 794-4021, or the Water Utility office at 856-794-4056.

Joe Smith is a N.E. Philly native transplanted to South Jersey more than 30 years ago, keeping an eye now on government in South Jersey. He is a former editor and current senior staff writer for The Daily Journal in Vineland, Courier-Post in Cherry Hill, and the Burlington County Times.

Have a tip? Reach out at jsmith@thedailyjournal.com. Help support local journalism with a subscription.

This article originally appeared on Vineland Daily Journal: Cooler, wetter weather helps Vineland drop water use restrictions