Hanover officials are asking residents to sharply reduce water use after the town’s water tanks fell to critical levels, putting pressure on pumps, emergency reserves and the community’s ability to keep up with demand.
Town Manager Joe Colangelo told the Select Board on Monday, June 15, that he learned Sunday morning from the Department of Public Works that the town’s water tanks had dropped to levels he said were the lowest in at least 15 years. He said the town quickly issued a reverse 911 message and used email and social media to alert residents.
We are using we as in the whole town using more water than we're able to currently produce.Hanover Town Manager Joe Colangelo
Officials said the issue appears to be driven by high demand, not a major water main break. Colangelo said he was speculating, but believed a hot Saturday after several rainy weekends may have led to increased outdoor water use, including pool fills. DPW Director Kurt Kelley said Hanover’s three water plants had been operating around the clock, but tank levels still dropped from 94 feet to 84 feet between Thursday and Sunday.
Kelley said the town’s system depends on water stored in elevated tanks to create pressure for homes and businesses. If the tanks are drawn down too far, he said, residents could see pressure loss and, at more serious levels, service interruptions. The tanks also provide backup volume for firefighting and allow treatment plants to go offline for maintenance without disrupting the system.
“The demand is just exceeding our production capacity and we're drawn down on our standpipes,” Kelley said.
Officials said Hanover exceeded its production level by about 14% on Saturday. Kelley said the town has turned off irrigation systems at public fields and facilities and is using new meter software to identify off-hours water use, including possible irrigation violations. The goal, officials said repeatedly, is a 10% reduction in water consumption.
Water Superintendent Adam Flood said Hanover is permitted by the state Department of Environmental Protection to pump and distribute 1.38 million gallons a day. He said the town is currently putting out 1.8 million gallons a day, while the town’s treatment plants are realistically closer to a 1.4 million to 1.5 million gallon maximum in their current condition.
Flood also said the town’s wells need time to recharge and warned that continued around-the-clock pumping creates operational risks.
“We have to start shutting these down to give them some time to rest and the wells are taxed,” Flood said. “There's no more ability to keep pulling out of them. We got to give them time to recharge.”
Select Board members asked whether a major leak could be contributing to the problem. Flood said the town’s leak detection subcontractor is already in Hanover and has not found anything major. He said a large water main break would show a sudden drop in tank levels, while the current pattern has been more gradual. Kelley said the town performs leak detection twice a year, as required by MassDEP.
Officials also discussed whether the shortage could affect water quality. Flood said the more the town pulls from its wells, the more it reaches what he described as “the bottom of the barrel,” where iron, manganese, organics and PFAS levels may be higher. He said the town is adjusting treatment chemistry and still putting out high-quality water.
Residents also raised concerns about enforcement. One resident questioned whether the town would publicly post addresses of people accused of violating water restrictions, saying residents should have due process before any information is placed online. Colangelo said the idea was his, not a Select Board decision, and said the town has the legal authority to publish violations in the same way other public financial information is available. He also said the town’s goal is compliance, not public shame.
“We're not looking to shame anyone,” Colangelo said. “We are looking to get a 10% reduction here and for people to take it serious.”
Deputy Fire Chief Fred Freeman told the board that Hanover’s normal mutual aid system remains in place. He said Fire Chief Jeff Blanchard issued a directive Monday establishing water supply contingency plans, including a tiered mutual aid plan with tanker support from Carver, Plymouth, Middleborough, Lakeville and Canton. He said crews could also draft water from Hacketts Pond, Cushing Brook, Forge Pond and the Indian Head River if needed during a fire.
Longer term, officials said the town is exploring ways to increase capacity, but none would provide an immediate fix. Colangelo said Hanover is effectively “tapped out” under its current permit unless a new well field or aquifer zone can be found. He said a connection to the MWRA may be the most significant long-term solution, but would require cooperation from multiple communities.
Kelley said Town Meeting approved an article in 2020 for redevelopment of one of the wells at Pond Street. Engineering and permitting work began last fall, and early indications suggest the well could see a 50% increase in pumping ability. Kelley said the town is discussing bringing a full well redevelopment article to the next Town Meeting, but that approval would only be an early step in a permitting, engineering and construction process that would not solve the current emergency.
Flood said the MWRA option could help South Shore communities in the future, but said it is not quick.
“It's 15 years away, 10 years minimum, I would have to guess if every town were to buy into it,” Flood said.