What if you had to go a day without water? For millions of Americans, lack of access to clean water is a
harsh reality, not something to be imagined. On Thursday, Oct. 19, let’s get loud — online and in our
communities — to recognize the significance of water in our daily routines and advocate for its
responsible management. Our actions today shape the water realities of tomorrow.
Find more info at www.imagineadaywithoutwater.org.
Imagine a Day Without Water: Thursday, Oct. 19
Join the Georgetown Water Department is marking the 9th annual Imagine a Day Without Water
National Day of Action!
On Thursday, Oct. 19, join a tide of people from across the country raising
awareness about the critical role water plays in our lives and the need to invest in our collective water
future. Together, we can ensure that clean, accessible water will flow for generations to come.
Sign up to participate, find resources, and learn more: www.imagineadaywithoutwater.org
Employment Opportunity – Office Clerk
The Georgetown Water Department is looking for a skilled candidate to fill an opening for a responsible Office Clerk.
Definition:
Under general supervision of the Utility Director and the Office Manager; performs responsible, secretarial, administrative and general office work to ensure the proper functioning of the Water office; performs, accounts receivable, accounts payable, customer service, payroll and daily office tasks. Works closely with other members of the department and is in frequent contact with other Town Department’s personnel, as well as the general public. Performs additional work as required.
Examples of Duties:
Duties may include, but not limited to:
- Customer Service; handling incoming phone calls, mail, faxes and visitors. Processing customer inquiries and complaints, scheduling appointments, updating and maintaining customer and system information, final readings, makes calls for appointment reminders and more.
- Performs office work regarding the department and customer accounts including but not limited to – Dig Safe requests, MLC requests, Title 5 requests, Returned Mail, Irrigation Permits, mailings and other requests.
- Accounts receivable; receiving and processing payments, maintaining the cash drawer, payment plans and accurate positing.
- Performs bookkeeping work related to accounts payable such as, vendor warrants and payroll warrants processing and delivery to Town Hall.
- Assists the Office Manager with customer billing as needed.
- Performs administrative tasks for the Utility Director or Office Manager when requested.
Minimum Qualifications: High school diploma or equivalent. Requires 3 years of responsible administrative experience. Knowledge of financial accounting, accounts payables, software programs such as Microsoft Office and Outlook. Excellent written, oral and interpersonal communication skills. Ability to work independently or with other department employees and to maintain good public relations. Ability to understand and follow written and oral instructions. Familiarity with Northern Data Systems billing software and Invoice Cloud a plus.
Applicants are asked to send a cover letter and resume to mladderbush@georgetownma.gov
Job Description-2023
Fire flow testing to take place in Main Street area on Sept. 27
The Water Department shares that a fire flow test has been scheduled for Wednesday, Sept. 27, which may cause discolored water in the Main Street area.
Following the test residents in that area may notice cloudy or discolored water. The discoloration should be gone after a short time. Residents should run water from a high-volume faucet – such as a bathtub – until water runs clear. Residents are encouraged to avoid doing laundry to prevent damage to clothing.
If you have questions, please call the Georgetown Water Department office at 978-352-5750.
Georgetown Water Department Highlights Smart Irrigation Month, Shares Water
Utility Director Marlene Ladderbush and the Georgetown Water Department inform residents that July is Smart Irrigation Month, and wish to share benefits of smart and effective use of water resources.
Smart Irrigation Month, which occurs every July, was started in 2019 to spread the word about smart irrigation options and appreciating their benefits.
The risks of drought and global warming play a part in the importance of smart irrigation. Last summer, Massachusetts saw ongoing drought conditions that required the Department to restrict water use for extended periods, at times rather extensively.
Smart irrigation provides a variety of environmental, social, and economic benefits:
- Makes maintaining green spaces easy and convenient.
- Minimizes over watering while keeping lawns, gardens, and landscapes beautiful and healthy.
- Saves money on utility bills.
- Helps protect community water supplies for today and the future.
What is smart irrigation and what are the benefits?
Smart irrigation is a method of using science and technology to save water in irrigation. Research from the Irrigation Association found that smart irrigation controllers save 20 percent more water than non-smart irrigation controllers.
There are a variety of smart irrigation options available, and features may vary depending on the device. Some potential features include:
- Smart schedule adjustments: Smart irrigation systems have one or more ways to estimate when your landscaping needs more or less water than normal. Some operate based on weather data and will turn off when it is raining. Others are more precise and use technology to directly measure the moisture in soil and apply exactly what is needed.
- Monitor water flow: Smart irrigation systems may also be capable of monitoring how much water you are using and generating reports. This can help you make more water-wise decisions, including which plants to choose and where to place them.
- Shut down for high flow: Water leaks in irrigation systems are one of the largest wastes of water. Many smart systems sense if there is unusually high water flow, which could be a sign of a leak. The system will shut down the water flow and alert you to the potential problem.
- App control: Whether through an app on your phone or on your desktop, most smart irrigation systems give you the ability to remotely control them, look at reports and alerts, adjust the system’s schedule, and turn it off in the event of a problem. Forgot to turn off the sprinklers to let the pool maintenance team in the yard? You can address it right away.
To learn more about watering wisely and landscaping tips, visit the EPA’s Watersense website.
Tips to make the most of your smart irrigation system
The Department would like to share these tips to help you make the most of your smart irrigation system, while lowering your water bill and your impact on the environment:
- Get professional installation
- Know the water needs of different plants
- Fine-tune your landscapes’ irrigation zones
- Improve your soil to retain more water
- Add shade to prevent evaporation
- Water at the correct times to avoid evaporation and retain moisture levels
Residents can always reach out to an irrigation professional to talk about how to improve your irrigation — July is a great time to do it!
More information on Smart Irrigation Month can be found at smartirrigationmonth.info and on the Irrigation Association’s website.