diff --git a/api/conf/settings/databases.py b/api/conf/settings/databases.py
index 5473bcc66b1..f0726b5cc3d 100644
--- a/api/conf/settings/databases.py
+++ b/api/conf/settings/databases.py
@@ -12,9 +12,6 @@
         "USER": config("DJANGO_DATABASE_USER", default="deploy"),
         "PASSWORD": config("DJANGO_DATABASE_PASSWORD", default="deploy"),
         "NAME": config("DJANGO_DATABASE_NAME", default="openledger"),
-        # Default of 30 matches RDS documentation's advised max DNS caching time
-        # https://docs.aws.amazon.com/AmazonRDS/latest/UserGuide/CHAP_BestPractices.html#CHAP_BestPractices.DiskPerformance
-        "CONN_MAX_AGE": config("DJANGO_CONN_MAX_AGE", default=30),
         "CONN_HEALTH_CHECKS": config(
             "DJANGO_CONN_HEALTH_CHECKS", default=True, cast=bool
         ),
@@ -22,6 +19,7 @@
             "application_name": config(
                 "DJANGO_DATABASE_APPLICATION_NAME", default="openverse-api"
             ),
+            "pool": True,
         },
     }
 }