Persistant Postgres Connections on the PSQL server?

I am running a webserver on machine A, and a postgres server on machine B. Reading the docs for PG_CLOSE it appears that a PG_CLOSE is not required, however our postgres box has the following: [sbrinker@samco sbrinker]$ ps aux | grep postgres postgres 6347 0.0 0.0 1692 0 ? SW Feb24 0:00 [pg_ctl] postgres 6348 0.0 1.5 5080 972 ? S Feb24 10:31 /usr/bin/postmast postgres 5981 0.0 4.4 5736 2828 ? S 11:14 0:03 /usr/bin/postgres postgres 5995 0.0 4.4 5700 2780 ? S 11:16 0:02 /usr/bin/postgres postgres 6150 0.0 4.4 5688 2776 ? S 11:26 0:01 /usr/bin/postgres postgres 6233 0.5 4.9 5984 3132 ? S 11:28 1:29 /usr/bin/postgres postgres 6795 0.0 3.4 5452 2196 ? S 12:44 0:00 /usr/bin/postgres postgres 7042 0.0 3.4 5452 2196 ? S 12:57 0:00 /usr/bin/postgres postgres 7139 0.0 3.4 5452 2196 ? S 13:04 0:00 /usr/bin/postgres postgres 7191 0.0 3.4 5452 2200 ? S 13:08 0:00 /usr/bin/postgres postgres 8725 0.0 3.4 5452 2200 ? S 15:00 0:00 /usr/bin/postgres postgres 8741 0.0 3.4 5452 2200 ? S 15:01 0:00 /usr/bin/postgres postgres 8762 0.0 3.4 5452 2200 ? S 15:02 0:00 /usr/bin/postgres postgres 8819 0.0 3.4 5452 2200 ? S 15:06 0:00 /usr/bin/postgres postgres 8885 0.0 3.5 5452 2204 ? S 15:12 0:00 /usr/bin/postgres postgres 8886 0.0 3.4 5452 2200 ? S 15:13 0:00 /usr/bin/postgres postgres 8925 0.0 3.4 5452 2200 ? S 15:43 0:00 /usr/bin/postgres postgres 8944 0.0 3.4 5452 2200 ? S 15:46 0:00 /usr/bin/postgres Each of these, with the exception of the first two say they are connected to via the webserver, and report to be IDLE. Is this a normal situation? How can I close these connections? I am not using persistant connections. Thankyou, <?php echo(base64_decode("UEhQI". /* Stan Brinkerhoff */ "GhhY2tpbiAtIEl0IGFpbnQganVzdCB". /* */ "mb3IgZ3JhbmRtYSBhbnltb3JlLg==")); /* */ ?>