With the change in drought conditions from Level 1 to Level 2, all nonessential outdoor water uses will be banned, except for watering ornamentals and flower gardens with drip irrigation, hand-held hoses, or watering cans, beginning on Wednesday, June 17, Dedham-Westwood Water District announced one week ahead of implementation of Level 2 restrictions.
The heightened water restrictions are due to what the Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs (EEA) calls worsening drought conditions and increasing stress on local water supplies following two years of below-average rainfall and declining streamflow and groundwater across the state.
The 1 to 3 inches of rain that fell in Massachusetts in May was 1.3 to 3 inches below normal, according to EEA. Although the levels of rivers and streams may rise following rain, they remain below normal levels, indicating decreasing levels of groundwater.
Regarding water sources from which Dedham-Westwood Water District draws upon, Executive Director Blake Lukis said, "Although the District's water sources remain within normal operating ranges and May brought some precipitation, drought conditions across the Commonwealth have continued to worsen. Groundwater and streamflow levels across the Southeast Region decreased from April to May, and the recharge of lakes and reservoirs remained insufficient."
For drought management purposes, Dedham and Westwood are considered part of the Southeast Region of the Commonwealth. On Tuesday, June 9, EEA Secretary Rebecca Tepper declared that Level 2 - Significant Drought conditions existed in the Southeast Region, along with the Cape Cod and Islands regions.
Regarding the remaining parts of Massachusetts, the Northeast Region holds a more serious designation of Level 3 - Critical Drought. The Western Region holds a Level 1 - Mild Drought designation.
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