[media_image unique_id=”e375e273727fecab1eb136e4b215c654″ shortcode_name=”” upload_img=”{‹²›attachment_id‹²›:‹²›2960‹²›,‹²›url‹²›:‹²›//www.ipswichriver.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/08/balancepermandimperv.png‹²›}” rounded=”” frame=”{‹²›selected‹²›:‹²›no‹²›,‹²›yes‹²›:{‹²›border_size‹²›:‹²›1‹²›,‹²›border_color‹²›:{‹²›color‹²›:‹²›‹²›,‹²›id‹²›:‹²›fw-custom‹²›}}}” image_switch=”{‹²›selected‹²›:‹²›no‹²›,‹²›yes‹²›:{‹²›switch_img‹²›:‹²›‹²›}}” ratio=”fw-original-ratio” image_size=”{‹²›select_size‹²›:‹²›auto‹²›,‹²›custom‹²›:{‹²›width‹²›:‹²›250‹²›,‹²›position‹²›:‹²›fw-block-image-center‹²›}}” image_moving=”{‹²›selected‹²›:‹²›no‹²›,‹²›yes‹²›:{‹²›animation‹²›:‹²›fw-image-vertical-moving‹²›,‹²›hover_only‹²›:‹²›yes‹²›}}” open_img=”{‹²›icon-box-img‹²›:‹²›nothing‹²›,‹²›popup‹²›:{‹²›image_popup‹²›:{‹²›icon-box-img‹²›:‹²›img‹²›,‹²›fw-block-image-icon‹²›:{‹²›upload_video‹²›:‹²›‹²›},‹²›image_gallery‹²›:{‹²›images‹²›:‹º›‹¹›}},‹²›display_overlay‹²›:‹²›yes‹²›},‹²›link‹²›:{‹²›custom_link‹²›:‹²›‹²›,‹²›open‹²›:‹²›no‹²›,‹²›display_overlay‹²›:‹²›yes‹²›}}” animation_group=”{‹²›selected‹²›:‹²›no‹²›,‹²›yes‹²›:{‹²›animation‹²›:{‹²›animation‹²›:‹²›fadeInUp‹²›,‹²›delay‹²›:‹²›200‹²›}}}” responsive=”{‹²›desktop_display‹²›:{‹²›selected‹²›:‹²›yes‹²›},‹²›tablet_landscape_display‹²›:{‹²›selected‹²›:‹²›yes‹²›},‹²›tablet_display‹²›:{‹²›selected‹²›:‹²›yes‹²›},‹²›smartphone_display‹²›:{‹²›selected‹²›:‹²›yes‹²›}}” class=”” __fw_editor_shortcodes_id=”0762cb3e7422215e075100c40ccda4f6″ _array_keys=”{‹²›upload_img‹²›:‹²›upload_img‹²›,‹²›frame‹²›:‹²›frame‹²›,‹²›image_switch‹²›:‹²›image_switch‹²›,‹²›image_size‹²›:‹²›image_size‹²›,‹²›image_moving‹²›:‹²›image_moving‹²›,‹²›open_img‹²›:‹²›open_img‹²›,‹²›animation_group‹²›:‹²›animation_group‹²›,‹²›responsive‹²›:‹²›responsive‹²›}” _fw_coder=”aggressive”][/media_image][text_block unique_id=”6ca699dae59c56fe1be3476b8029b103″ text_advanced_styling=”{‹²›text‹²›:{‹²›google_font‹²›:true,‹²›subset‹²›:‹²›cyrillic‹²›,‹²›variation‹²›:‹²›regular‹²›,‹²›family‹²›:‹²›PT Sans‹²›,‹²›style‹²›:false,‹²›weight‹²›:false,‹²›size‹²›:‹²›14‹²›,‹²›line-height‹²›:‹²›24‹²›,‹²›letter-spacing‹²›:‹²›0‹²›,‹²›color-palette‹²›:{‹²›id‹²›:‹²›color_1‹²›,‹²›color‹²›:‹²›‹²›},‹²›is_saved‹²›:true}}” text=”‹¨›p‹˜›‹¯›nbsp;‹¨›/p‹˜›‹¨›p‹˜›The Net Zero, or Water Neutral Growth, policy asks for the water demands of development to be offset by recharge areas or conservation measures elsewhere in the community.‹¨›/p‹˜›” animation_group=”{‹²›selected‹²›:‹²›no‹²›,‹²›yes‹²›:{‹²›animation‹²›:{‹²›animation‹²›:‹²›fadeInUp‹²›,‹²›delay‹²›:‹²›200‹²›}}}” responsive=”{‹²›desktop_display‹²›:{‹²›selected‹²›:‹²›yes‹²›},‹²›tablet_landscape_display‹²›:{‹²›selected‹²›:‹²›yes‹²›},‹²›tablet_display‹²›:{‹²›selected‹²›:‹²›yes‹²›},‹²›smartphone_display‹²›:{‹²›selected‹²›:‹²›yes‹²›}}” class=”” __fw_editor_shortcodes_id=”7797266e244da2d94deb95ad70e57655″ _array_keys=”{‹²›text_advanced_styling‹²›:‹²›text_advanced_styling‹²›,‹²›animation_group‹²›:‹²›animation_group‹²›,‹²›responsive‹²›:‹²›responsive‹²›}” _fw_coder=”aggressive”][/text_block][space shortcode_name=”” height=”space-sm” responsive=”{‹²›desktop_display‹²›:{‹²›selected‹²›:‹²›yes‹²›},‹²›tablet_landscape_display‹²›:{‹²›selected‹²›:‹²›yes‹²›},‹²›tablet_display‹²›:{‹²›selected‹²›:‹²›yes‹²›},‹²›smartphone_display‹²›:{‹²›selected‹²›:‹²›yes‹²›}}” __fw_editor_shortcodes_id=”28e3358469980d1fbd4db13e37b3bce8″ _array_keys=”{‹²›responsive‹²›:‹²›responsive‹²›}” _fw_coder=”aggressive”][/space][text_block unique_id=”1c5199be7ddb16982a146a10f460142f” text_advanced_styling=”{‹²›text‹²›:{‹²›google_font‹²›:true,‹²›subset‹²›:‹²›cyrillic‹²›,‹²›variation‹²›:‹²›regular‹²›,‹²›family‹²›:‹²›PT Sans‹²›,‹²›style‹²›:false,‹²›weight‹²›:false,‹²›size‹²›:‹²›15‹²›,‹²›line-height‹²›:‹²›24‹²›,‹²›letter-spacing‹²›:‹²›0‹²›,‹²›color-palette‹²›:{‹²›id‹²›:‹²›fw-custom‹²›,‹²›color‹²›:‹²›‹²›},‹²›is_saved‹²›:false}}” text=”‹¨›p‹˜›‹¨›span class‹´›‹²›tadv-format-panel‹²› data-rich-text-format-boundary‹´›‹²›true‹²›‹˜›As a result of the increasing pace of development and the new cap set by the state on water withdrawals from the Ipswich River, the Ipswich River Watershed Association adopted a ‹¨›/span‹˜›‹¨›a href‹´›‹²›https://www.ipswichriver.org/blogs/new-net-zero-water-use-policy/‹²›‹˜›‹¨›span class‹´›‹²›tadv-format-panel‹²›‹˜›Net Zero Water Use policy in January‹¨›/span‹˜›‹¨›/a‹˜›‹¨›span class‹´›‹²›tadv-format-panel‹²›‹˜›. The policy asks cities and towns to offset every gallon required by new development projects by reducing water use by an equal or larger amount elsewhere in town. The policy is also known as water neutral growth‹¨›/span‹˜›‹¨›i‹˜›‹¨›span class‹´›‹²›tadv-format-panel‹²›‹˜›,‹¨›/span‹˜›‹¨›/i‹˜›‹¨›span class‹´›‹²›tadv-format-panel‹²›‹˜› as these measures are meant to allow for continued growth and development without straining otherwise limited water supplies.‹¯›nbsp;‹¨›/span‹˜›‹¨›/p‹˜›” animation_group=”{‹²›selected‹²›:‹²›no‹²›,‹²›yes‹²›:{‹²›animation‹²›:{‹²›animation‹²›:‹²›fadeInUp‹²›,‹²›delay‹²›:‹²›200‹²›}}}” responsive=”{‹²›desktop_display‹²›:{‹²›selected‹²›:‹²›yes‹²›},‹²›tablet_landscape_display‹²›:{‹²›selected‹²›:‹²›yes‹²›},‹²›tablet_display‹²›:{‹²›selected‹²›:‹²›yes‹²›},‹²›smartphone_display‹²›:{‹²›selected‹²›:‹²›yes‹²›}}” class=”” __fw_editor_shortcodes_id=”cd19694efb2a27441cf43ce390a3f478″ _array_keys=”{‹²›text_advanced_styling‹²›:‹²›text_advanced_styling‹²›,‹²›animation_group‹²›:‹²›animation_group‹²›,‹²›responsive‹²›:‹²›responsive‹²›}” _fw_coder=”aggressive”][/text_block][space shortcode_name=”” height=”space-sm” responsive=”{‹²›desktop_display‹²›:{‹²›selected‹²›:‹²›yes‹²›},‹²›tablet_landscape_display‹²›:{‹²›selected‹²›:‹²›yes‹²›},‹²›tablet_display‹²›:{‹²›selected‹²›:‹²›yes‹²›},‹²›smartphone_display‹²›:{‹²›selected‹²›:‹²›yes‹²›}}” __fw_editor_shortcodes_id=”d73f03548667a5a6278fa71186ec763c” _array_keys=”{‹²›responsive‹²›:‹²›responsive‹²›}” _fw_coder=”aggressive”][/space][quote unique_id=”231d43306e141934b1e58abe9edc127f” quote_advanced_styling=”{‹²›quote_sign_font‹²›:{‹²›google_font‹²›:true,‹²›subset‹²›:‹²›latin-ext‹²›,‹²›variation‹²›:‹²›regular‹²›,‹²›family‹²›:‹²›News Cycle‹²›,‹²›style‹²›:‹²›‹²›,‹²›weight‹²›:‹²›‹²›,‹²›size‹²›:180,‹²›line-height‹²›:10,‹²›letter-spacing‹²›:0,‹²›color-palette‹²›:{‹²›id‹²›:‹²›fw-custom‹²›,‹²›color‹²›:‹²›‹²›},‹²›is_saved‹²›:false},‹²›quote_top‹²›:‹²›‹²›,‹²›quote_left‹²›:‹²›‹²›}” quote_simbol=”no” text_advanced_styling=”{‹²›text‹²›:{‹²›google_font‹²›:true,‹²›subset‹²›:‹²›cyrillic‹²›,‹²›variation‹²›:‹²›italic‹²›,‹²›family‹²›:‹²›PT Sans‹²›,‹²›style‹²›:false,‹²›weight‹²›:false,‹²›size‹²›:‹²›15‹²›,‹²›line-height‹²›:‹²›24‹²›,‹²›letter-spacing‹²›:‹²›0‹²›,‹²›color-palette‹²›:{‹²›id‹²›:‹²›fw-custom‹²›,‹²›color‹²›:‹²›‹²›},‹²›is_saved‹²›:true}}” text=”‹¨›p‹˜›‹¨›em data-rich-text-format-boundary‹´›‹²›true‹²›‹˜›“Now that the river’s hard cap for withdrawals has been exceeded, the cities and towns that depend on the river for their water supplies will have to live within the existing authorized amounts forever,” says Executive Director Wayne Castonguay. “Thus it is critical for us not to allow for increased water demand without finding water savings elsewhere.”‹¯›nbsp;‹¨›/em‹˜›‹¨›/p‹˜›” text_align=”fw-quote-left” separator_advanced_styling=”{‹²›separator_color‹²›:{‹²›color‹²›:‹²›‹²›,‹²›id‹²›:‹²›fw-custom‹²›},‹²›separator_width‹²›:‹²›‹²›,‹²›separator_height‹²›:‹²›‹²›}” separator=”no” author_advanced_styling=”{‹²›author‹²›:{‹²›google_font‹²›:true,‹²›subset‹²›:‹²›latin‹²›,‹²›variation‹²›:‹²›regular‹²›,‹²›family‹²›:‹²›PT Sans‹²›,‹²›style‹²›:false,‹²›weight‹²›:false,‹²›size‹²›:‹²›15‹²›,‹²›line-height‹²›:‹²›30‹²›,‹²›letter-spacing‹²›:‹²›-0.5‹²›,‹²›color-palette‹²›:{‹²›id‹²›:‹²›fw-custom‹²›,‹²›color‹²›:‹²›‹²›},‹²›is_saved‹²›:false}}” author=”” author_link=”” animation_group=”{‹²›selected‹²›:‹²›no‹²›,‹²›yes‹²›:{‹²›animation‹²›:{‹²›animation‹²›:‹²›fadeInUp‹²›,‹²›delay‹²›:‹²›200‹²›}}}” responsive=”{‹²›desktop_display‹²›:{‹²›selected‹²›:‹²›yes‹²›},‹²›tablet_landscape_display‹²›:{‹²›selected‹²›:‹²›yes‹²›},‹²›tablet_display‹²›:{‹²›selected‹²›:‹²›yes‹²›},‹²›smartphone_display‹²›:{‹²›selected‹²›:‹²›yes‹²›}}” class=”” __fw_editor_shortcodes_id=”34d0603227e50577e1dafbdff8f8f607″ _array_keys=”{‹²›quote_advanced_styling‹²›:‹²›quote_advanced_styling‹²›,‹²›text_advanced_styling‹²›:‹²›text_advanced_styling‹²›,‹²›separator_advanced_styling‹²›:‹²›separator_advanced_styling‹²›,‹²›author_advanced_styling‹²›:‹²›author_advanced_styling‹²›,‹²›animation_group‹²›:‹²›animation_group‹²›,‹²›responsive‹²›:‹²›responsive‹²›}” _fw_coder=”aggressive”][/quote][space shortcode_name=”” height=”space-sm” responsive=”{‹²›desktop_display‹²›:{‹²›selected‹²›:‹²›yes‹²›},‹²›tablet_landscape_display‹²›:{‹²›selected‹²›:‹²›yes‹²›},‹²›tablet_display‹²›:{‹²›selected‹²›:‹²›yes‹²›},‹²›smartphone_display‹²›:{‹²›selected‹²›:‹²›yes‹²›}}” __fw_editor_shortcodes_id=”9d88d165c3912544cdc4067dd783ca57″ _array_keys=”{‹²›responsive‹²›:‹²›responsive‹²›}” _fw_coder=”aggressive”][/space][text_block unique_id=”6482099310d5f18393a78a0b3cf879f0″ text_advanced_styling=”{‹²›text‹²›:{‹²›google_font‹²›:true,‹²›subset‹²›:‹²›cyrillic‹²›,‹²›variation‹²›:‹²›regular‹²›,‹²›family‹²›:‹²›PT Sans‹²›,‹²›style‹²›:false,‹²›weight‹²›:false,‹²›size‹²›:‹²›15‹²›,‹²›line-height‹²›:‹²›24‹²›,‹²›letter-spacing‹²›:‹²›0‹²›,‹²›color-palette‹²›:{‹²›id‹²›:‹²›fw-custom‹²›,‹²›color‹²›:‹²›‹²›},‹²›is_saved‹²›:false}}” text=”‹¨›p‹˜›Since announcing the policy, Ipswich River staff have been hard at work around the watershed and beyond helping to educate decision-makers and citizens on how we can grow and reduce water use at the same time. These efforts are particularly timely as more than 5000 new housing units are currently proposed in communities that rely on the river for their water. Large developments asking for water are being planned right now in Wilmington, North Reading, Lynnfield, Danvers, Topsfield, Beverly, Salem, Lynn and Ipswich. Staff and volunteers are actively meeting with town officials to explain the policy in the hopes of minimizing new water demand from these new developments.‹¨›/p‹˜›‹¨›p‹˜›To help city and town officials and developers, Ipswich River staff are working with the Town of Ipswich to develop a net-zero toolkit that can be used in Ipswich and elsewhere to achieve this goal. We’ve also updated the Greenscapes Coalition’s ‹¨›a href‹´›‹²›http://greenscapes.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/Greenscapes-Guide-2019.pdf‹²›‹˜›G‹¨›/a‹˜›‹¨›em‹˜›‹¨›a href‹´›‹²›http://greenscapes.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/Greenscapes-Guide-2019.pdf‹²›‹˜›reenscapes Guide‹¨›/a‹˜›‹¨›/em‹˜› that shows everyone how to save time, water, money and the environment!‹¯›nbsp; Staff are also working with local partners on a series of “Water Talks” which bring community officials and residents together to have these conversations. This summer, talks have been held or are being planned in Lynnfield, Salem, Hamilton and Topsfield. If you want to help organize a talk in your town please contact Rachel at ‹¨›a href‹´›‹²›mailto:[email protected]‹²›‹˜›[email protected]‹¨›/a‹˜›‹¨›/p‹˜›‹¨›p‹˜›By working together, we can meet the needs of our communities and the River!‹¨›/p‹˜›‹¨›p‹˜›Learn about how you can save water (and money!) ‹¨›strong‹˜›‹¨›a href‹´›‹²›https://www.ipswichriver.org/support/save-water-save-money/‹²›‹˜›here.‹¨›/a‹˜›‹¨›/strong‹˜›‹¨›/p‹˜›” animation_group=”{‹²›selected‹²›:‹²›no‹²›,‹²›yes‹²›:{‹²›animation‹²›:{‹²›animation‹²›:‹²›fadeInUp‹²›,‹²›delay‹²›:‹²›200‹²›}}}” responsive=”{‹²›desktop_display‹²›:{‹²›selected‹²›:‹²›yes‹²›},‹²›tablet_landscape_display‹²›:{‹²›selected‹²›:‹²›yes‹²›},‹²›tablet_display‹²›:{‹²›selected‹²›:‹²›yes‹²›},‹²›smartphone_display‹²›:{‹²›selected‹²›:‹²›yes‹²›}}” class=”” __fw_editor_shortcodes_id=”1b1cef47291a025d102ccdd4976048e0″ _array_keys=”{‹²›text_advanced_styling‹²›:‹²›text_advanced_styling‹²›,‹²›animation_group‹²›:‹²›animation_group‹²›,‹²›responsive‹²›:‹²›responsive‹²›}” _fw_coder=”aggressive”][/text_block]