Drought Conditions Worsen in CT River Valley, Southeast, and Cape Cod Regions

Public is Asked to Continue to Practice Water Conservation Methods

For Regions in Level 3 – Critical Drought

Residents and Businesses:
drought

  • Minimize overall water use;
  • Stop all non-essential outdoor watering.

Immediate Steps for Communities:

  • Adopt and implement the state’s nonessential outdoor water use restrictions for drought. Level 3 restriction calls for a ban on all nonessential outdoor water use.
  • Provide timely information on the drought and on water conservation tips to local residents and businesses.
  • Enforce water use restrictions with increasingly stringent penalties.
  • Strongly discourage or prohibit installation of new sod, seeding, and/or landscaping; washing of hard surfaces (sidewalks, patios, driveways, siding); personal vehicle or boat washing; filling of swimming pools.
  • Establish or enhance water-use reduction targets for all water users and identify top water users and conduct targeted outreach to help curb their use.

Short- and Medium-Term Steps for Communities:

  • Establish a year-round water conservation program that includes public education and communication;
  • Implement or establish drought surcharge or seasonal water rates.
  • Prepare to activate emergency inter-connections for water supply.
  • Develop or refine your local drought management plan using guidance outlined in the state Drought Management Plan.

“Under current drought conditions, it is critically important that all residents heed their water suppliers’ requests to cut back on nonessential water use,” said MassDEP Commissioner Martin Suuberg.“Cutting back on outdoor water use and following local conservation requirements will help sustain our water sources until precipitation rates can rebound.”

The Drought Management Task Force will meet again on Tuesday, August 23, 2022, at 10:00AM. For further information on water conservation and what residents can do, please visit EEA’s drought page and water conservation page. To get the most up-to-date information on the drought indices, go to the state’s drought dashboard page.

Majority of State Experiencing Ongoing Drought Conditions

For Region in Level 2 – Significant Drought
drought
Residents and Businesses:

  • Minimize overall water use;
  • Limit outdoor watering to hand-held hoses or watering cans, to be used only after 5:00PM or before 9:00AM.

Immediate Steps for Communities:

  • Adopt and implement the state’s nonessential outdoor water use restrictions for drought.
  • Limit or prohibit installation of new sod, seeding, and/or landscaping; washing of hard surfaces (sidewalks, patios, driveways, siding); personal vehicle or boat washing; operation of non-recirculating fountains; filling of swimming pools, hot tubs, and backyard informal rinks.
  • Implement drought or seasonal water rates.
  • Establish water-use reduction targets for all water users and identify top water users and conduct targeted outreach to help curb their use.

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Storm Henri

The National Weather Service has announced that tropical storm Henri is expected to make landfall in New England this Sunday, August 22. The current forecast has the storm moving into the region Sunday afternoon and lasting through Monday morning. We could receive 4 to 8 inches of rain and wind gusts of 50 to 60 miles per hour. Be sure that end of driveway culverts are clear from any debris to help prevent flooding. Residents who are on well water, be sure to store some drinking water in case of power outages. Our emergency response team will be tracking the storm and ready to respond to emergencies accordingly.

Visit the following website that provides guidance on how to prepare and how to keep you and your family safe: https://www.ready.gov/hurricanes#before

VERIZON customers can contact Verizon at 1-800-VERIZON (1-800-837-4966 or online at www.verizon.com/outage to report any service-related issue, receive alerts and find helpful service-related FAQs.

EVERSOURCE – to report or check an outage as well as to receive alerts and find helpful service-related information, visit https://outage.eversource.com/.

And in any emergency, dial 911.