For about 48 hours this weekend, Worcester County officials asked residents and visitors of Riddle Farm and South Ocean Pines to cease all non-essential indoor and outdoor water use because of low water tables and well pump issues.
Ocean Pines sign
File photo
By Tara Fischer, Staff Writer
For about 48 hours, Worcester County officials asked residents and visitors of Riddle Farm and South Ocean Pines to cease all non-essential indoor and outdoor water use because of low water tables and well pump issues. The conservation measures were imposed on Saturday and were lifted Monday.
“In addition to the low water levels, electrical issues caused two well pumps in Ocean Pines to fail, which has resulted in low or no water pressure in certain areas,” County Public Works Director Dallas Baker said in a press release.
While repairs were completed, the water supply needed time to recover properly. The public works director maintained that while the measures were voluntary, officials were prepared to implement mandatory restrictions if the issue was not resolved quickly.
“Public safety, fire protection specifically, is our top priority in these communities,” he said. Ensuring that enough of the areas’ water supply was conserved by limiting unnecessary activities was necessary to maintain residents’ well-being.
Nonessential water uses include lawn irrigation and landscaping with sprinklers, washing vehicles, exterior building surfaces, parking lots, or driveways, and watering athletic fields and trees.
“We are working with Worcester County Commissioner Chip Bertino and county public works crews to keep our residents informed,” Ocean Pines Association General Manager John Viola said in an OPA press release of the measurements.
In an updated statement, Baker said officials fixed two Ocean Pines well pumps and mended an issue with four valves.
“The south water tower has reached and is continuing to maintain sufficient levels, even with irrigation activities continuing,” the public works director said. “We want to thank everyone who took the conservation efforts seriously and, turned off their irrigation systems and reduced their water consumption. That partnership played a key role in helping to restore adequate water levels in the tower.”
Residents can request more information on the situation by contacting Ocean Pines at 443-783-0041 or West Ocean City at 443-783-0041.