Mandatory water restrictions (Level 1) for customers of Dedham-Westwood Water District will take effect on Monday, May 18, following a declaration by the state on Friday, May 8 that the Southeast Region of the Commonwealth is experiencing mild drought conditions.
The Level 1 restrictions requires customers to limit nonessential outdoor water use to one day a week, between the hours of 5:00 p.m. and 9:00 a.m. An exception to this restriction relates to ornamental or flower gardens, which customers can water with drip irrigation, hand-held hoses, or watering cans.
Customers are assigned a particular day of the week for allowable watering, during the above-specified times, based on the first letter of the street name of their service address:
“While there has been some precipitation, and the District’s sources are at normal operating ranges, we are still experiencing an overall deficit in the Southeast Region,” said Executive Director Blake Lukis. “At last week’s Drought Management Task Force Meeting, we learned that the low levels of precipitation have affected the streamflow and the replenishment of lakes and reservoirs in our region.”
The Massachusetts Department of Energy and Environmental Affairs (EEA)/Drought Management Task Force moved the drought declaration for the Southeast Region of the Commonwealth - of which the water district and its customers are a part - from Level 0 (Normal Conditions) to Level 1 (Mild Drought Conditions). While Massachusetts experienced normal amounts of precipitation in March, precipitation was well below normal in April, according to EEA.
"The current drought, which began in 2024, continues to affect the natural environment like streamflow, vernal pools and ponds and dependent species, fish migrations and declining groundwater. The drought is also drying out vegetation and ground cover. While local water supplies are currently stable, the persistence of drought conditions, combined with the start of growing season and increased water demand, makes continued conservation even more important," reads the EEA drought status update of May 8.
The Drought Management Task Force typically meets monthly to review conditions across the Commonwealth. The water district notes that changes and future drought-related requirements will be announced on the Dedham-Westwood Water District website, Facebook, X/Twitter, and Instagram.
Sunny, with a high of 67 and low of 40 degrees. Sunny for the morning, partly cloudy during the afternoon, clear during the evening,
