Public is Asked to Continue to Practice Water Conservation Methods
For Regions in Level 3 – Critical Drought
Residents and Businesses:
![drought](https://townofblandford.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/drought-081022.png)
- 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.