PARK RIDGE—The Park Ridge Water Department will implement mandatory water restrictions beginning April 1, citing ongoing drought conditions in New Jersey and reduced system capacity tied to wells taken offline for treatment and mechanical upgrades.
The restrictions will remain in effect through Sept. 1.
Under the new schedule, both manual and automatic lawn sprinkling will be limited to designated days based on municipality:
- Park Ridge residents: Monday, Wednesday, Friday
- Woodcliff Lake residents: Tuesday, Thursday, Saturday
Officials said the measures are intended to manage demand as the borough’s daily water production capacity has been reduced.
Several exceptions are built into the policy. Newly installed sod or seed may be watered daily for up to 45 days after planting. Watering is also permitted for two consecutive days following the commercial application of fertilizer, herbicide, or pesticide.
Residents may continue to use hand-held hoses for irrigation or vehicle washing on any day, provided the hose is equipped with an automatic shut-off nozzle.
The policy allows limited outdoor water use for home maintenance. Homeowners may wash buildings, decks, fences, and outdoor furniture using a bucket and sponge or a hose with an automatic shut-off nozzle. Power washers may be used only to prepare surfaces for painting, staining, or other treatment.
Washing of impervious surfaces such as pavement is generally prohibited, unless deemed necessary by municipal or county health officials to address a public health concern.
Homeowners may also hire commercial power washing services for approved cleaning and maintenance tasks, though restrictions on pavement washing remain in place.
Officials urge residents to adhere to the schedule and conservation guidelines as drought conditions persist and infrastructure work continues.
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