diff --git a/.github/pull_request_template.md b/.github/pull_request_template.md
index 88c4fce4f..78e8050a6 100644
--- a/.github/pull_request_template.md
+++ b/.github/pull_request_template.md
@@ -25,4 +25,5 @@
 - [ ] If you have DB migration, it is a "safe" migration and you've confirmed it can be rolled back.
 - [ ] If applicable, Controllers modified contain appropriate authorization plugs
 - [ ] This PR has been reviewed by at least one other team member.
+- [ ] Build has been approved for deployment in CircleCI.
 
diff --git a/config/prod.exs b/config/prod.exs
index 875f8c192..bd61ee5da 100644
--- a/config/prod.exs
+++ b/config/prod.exs
@@ -18,7 +18,14 @@ config :challenge_gov, Web.Endpoint,
 
 config :challenge_gov, ChallengeGov.Repo,
   url: System.get_env("DATABASE_URL"),
-  pool_size: String.to_integer(System.get_env("POOL_SIZE") || "15"),
+  ssl: true,
+  pool_size: String.to_integer(System.get_env("POOL_SIZE") || "20"),
+  # Increase the target wait time
+  queue_target: 5000,
+  # Adjust interval for waiting for available connections
+  queue_interval: 1000,
+  # Adjust the connection timeout as needed
+  timeout: 15000,
   loggers: [{LoggerJSON.Ecto, :log, [:info]}]
 
 # Do not print debug messages in production