How much water does Topsfield use?  Below is a chart that shows how much water was used on a daily basis for the past few weeks. The totals include all of the water consumed including water used by customers, leakage, flushing and fire fighting.  The volumes on this chart are calculated using pump flow and tank level data from our control system.  System demand is calculated by correcting withdrawal volumes for changes in storage tank levels.

The Topsfield Water Department has instituted a Mandatory Outdoor Water Use Restriction effective June 21, 2010. The restrictions are required because the average daily stream flow for the Ipswich River, as recorded at the United States Geological Survey's Ipswich Gauge Station, has fallen below 52.5 cubic feet per second for three consecutive days. Flows below this minimum level are not adequate to support fish and other river-dependent life. The following restrictions apply to all water users which includes all persons, regardless of their geographic location, using water withdrawn from water sources located within the Town of Topsfield:

• Nonessential outdoor water use is limited to hand-held hoses or buckets only before 9 A.M. or after 5 P.M. each day.
• The use of automatic irrigation systems at any time is strictly prohibited.
• Essential outdoor water use is permitted and includes those uses that have a health or safety impact, are required by regulation or are needed to meet the core functions of a business or organization.

May 1st marks the beginning of the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection's summer regulatory period. From now until September 30th, our Water Withdrawal Permit requires us to implement outdoor water use restrictions when Ipswich River stream flow falls below certain levels. The permit also restricts the amount of water we can pump during this period.

Stream flow is measured at the United States Geological Survey's gauge station located just downstream of the dam near Foote Brothers Canoe Rental in Ipswich.

A voluntary outdoor water use restriction is required if the average daily stream flow at the Ipswich Gauge drops below 70 cubic feet per second for three consecutive days. If the average daily stream flow continues to drop and falls below 52.5 cubic feet per second for three consecutive days then a mandatory restriction is required.

The restrictions stay in effect until stream flow recovers and is above the trigger point for at least 10 consecutive days.

The Water, Highway and Parks & Cemetery Departments share this site to provide information to the public. The departments are funded, operated and managed separately but often share equipment and resources.

The Water Department is responsible for operating and maintaining the Town's drinking water sources and distribution system. The Highway Department maintains the Town's roads and associated properties including the stormwater collection system. The Parks and Cemetery Department maintains the Town's many parks and cemeteries.

If you are looking for something and are unable to locate it on this site, please call the Water Department at (978) 887-1517 for any drinking water related questions, the Highway Department at (978) 887-1542 for any road questions or the Parks & Cemetery Department at (978) 887-1525. Feel free to send any comments about the new website by clicking on the "Comment" menu item at the bottom of any screen.