Why Can’t I use Lawn Sprinklers?

First and foremost, the concern and goal of the water department is to produce and deliver SAFE DRINKING WATER to all of our customers.  The cost to produce and chemically treat the water supply is very expensive.  The cost factor alone should be enough to deter automatic sprinkler usage.  Yes, green lawns are very nice looking but should not be maintained at the expense of EVERY water rate payer!  Your option is to use a private well for irrigation purposes.  Second, ALL municipalities, not just Norton, fall under state and federal guidelines.  One of these guidelines is the amount of water you are allowed to pump out of the ground.  This is known as the Withdrawal Permit.  Exceeding the Withdrawal Permit results in substantial fines and penalties to the Town of Norton.  Finally, given the choice between sprinkler use and adequate water and pressure for fire protection during the highest demand season, the latter is the obvious and sensible choice.