City encourages voluntary water conservation while major tank is offline for repairs

posted on 6/6/2025

The City of Dover is encouraging its water customers to voluntarily conserve water through mid-July, such as reducing or eliminating lawn irrigation, while its primary storage tank on Garrison Hill remains offline for rehabilitation.

Water conservation will ensure sufficient water reserves for personal and emergency needs.

The 4 million gallon water tank has been offline since March for the long-planned $2.88 million rehabilitation project. It's the first time this critical infrastructure workhorse has been drained and inspected since it was built in 1968. While offline, the city is primarily relying on its smaller, 1 million gallon tank to meet water needs.

"Daily water use increases a million gallons a day during the summer, so we're asking the public to be mindful of their usage," said Community Services Director John Storer. "Cutting back on lawn irrigation and other water-intensive activities will go a long way to make sure we have enough water for everyone, including our firefighters when they need it most."

The work on the Garrison Hill tank began with a structural analysis. Crews then repaired the tank’s walls, dome, and floor and are now applying specialized coatings and sealants. Moisture and condensation have delayed progress, pushing the completion date from June to mid-July. In addition to structural repairs, the city has replaced piping and will install a new mixing unit to improve water quality.

Track water use, get leak alerts with ‘Eye On Water’

Water customers can monitor their water usage with the Eye On Water online portal and mobile app. The system helps track daily, monthly, and yearly consumption; users can also sign up to receive alerts for potential leaks. Access the portal at https://eyeonwater.com/signup. Customers will need their account number from their water bill. For assistance, contact the Water and Sewer Billing Office at 603-516-6028.

Ways to conserve

Residents and customers can conserve water by adopting the following best practices:

• Limit outdoor watering. According to the EPA, irrigation accounts for 30% of residential water use nationally — about 9 billion gallons per day. Avoid irrigating during the hottest parts of the day when evaporation is highest.
• Utilize commercial car washes. They are more efficient with water and don’t dump dirty water into the storm drains. 
• Fixing leaky plumbing conserves water and saves money. Leaking faucets and toilets can waste thousands of gallons a year, leading to increased water bills.
• Be mindful of indoor water use. Take shorter showers, turn off the water when brushing teeth, and run dishwashers and washing machines only when full.

Drought conditions lifted in May

Since the tank project began, groundwater levels have improved significantly. Dover and the southern half of the state were in a moderate drought in March. Those conditions improved to the abnormally dry designation in April. As of May 20, the U.S. Drought Monitor has removed all drought classifications in the state.

For more information, contact Community Services at 603-516-6450.