2022-2023 DROUGHT STATUS UPDATES
- 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 one day a week.
- 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.
- Establish a year-round water conservation program that includes public education and communication;
- Provide timely information to local residents and businesses;
- Check emergency inter-connections for water supply; and
- Develop a local drought management plan.
- Toilets, faucets and showers are more than 60% of indoor use. Make sure yours are WaterSense efficient.
- Limit outdoor watering to 1 day a week (only from 5:00PM – 9:00AM), or less frequently if required by your water supplier
- Establish a year-round water conservation program that includes public education and communication;
- Provide timely information to local residents and businesses;
- Check emergency inter-connections for water supply; and
- Develop a local drought management plan (click here for more information).
- Minimize overall water use.
- Stop all non-essential outdoor watering.
- 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.
- 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.
To view the full official news announcement from the EEA, please visit this page.
UPDATE: AUGUST 9, 2022
Drought conditions have worsened in CT River Valley, Southeast, and Cape Cod regions. The CT River Valley and Southeast regions have both been elevated to a Level 3 - Critical drought status, and the Cape Cod region has been elevated to a Level 2 - Significant drought status. The Western and Islands regions both still remain at a Level 1 - Mild drought status. State officials continue to urge practicing water conservation and adherence to local requirements and recommendations to avoid over stressing water resources. Minimizing water usage now will help water systems rebound more quickly and ensure essential public helath, safety, and environmental needs can be met. In a meeting of the Drought Management Task Force on August 8, members of the team outlined numerous drought-related hazards and issues that are being increased due to the continued dry, hot weather. Among the issues and hazards discussed include increased fire risk and danger, worsening water quality in natural water bodies, and threats to habitat connectivity for wildlife due to low water levels. Increased fire danger poses threats to homes, businesses, natural resources and wildlife, as well as human lives including those of the firefighters and first responders answering the call to action. More fires means more needs for water, and the increased demand for water means added stress on water systems. Fire activity is increasing across the state, and fires in remote areas with delayed response are now burning deep into organic layers of soil. Drought induced fire behavior can create suppression challenges and increase the incident timeframes. For these reasons, it is critical that we all practice water conservation as much as possible and take caution around outdoor activities that increase the risk of brush fires (BBQs, campfires, disposal of smoking materials, etc). If you are working or recreating with open flames, take special precautions by keeping water close by to extinguish small spreads and be sure to completely drown campfires and put them out cold. If you do see or witness a fire becoming out of control, call 911 immediately to report it - do not hesitate, every second counts!
The month of July 2022 saw minimal precipitation and high temperatures throughout the state, with eastern MA seeing the lowest rainfall. Cape Cod and Martha's Vineyard saw less that an inch of rain (>50% of normal precipitation), and in eastern MA rainfall totals ranged in the top 15 driest Julys on records. Central and Western MA saw slightly higher rainfall with totals ranging from 2-4 inches (50-100% of normal precipitation), and some locations in the Springfield and southern Berkshire County experienced total ranges between 4-5 inches of rainfall.
Some reservoirs are seeing decreasing levels, and many areas across the state are seeing dry streambeds and diminished extent of streams in many watersheds leading to lack of flow, increased turbidity, high water temperature, and increased algae blooms. Groundwater is also starting to be impacted in many regions due to it's slow reacting index. Agriculture is also experiencing the drought impacts with depletion of water sources and production acreage. Consumers are being encourages to purchase fresh fruits, vegetables, and other products at local farm stands and retail stores throughout the Commonwealth.
According to its individual plan definition, the MA Water Resources Authority (MWRA) water supply system is not experiencing drought conditions. Private wells, local streams, wetlands, vernal pools, and other water-dependent habitats located within MWRA-serviced areas are beign impacted by drought conditions while water quality in ponds can deteriorate due to lowering levels and stagnation.
To view the full press release, click here.
EEA Secretary Rebecca Tepper declared the end of the drought in the Commonwealth today, February, 13, 2023. After five months of normal to above-normal precipitation and record-breaking warmth in January, all seven regions of the state are now listed back at Level 0-Normal drought status. The drought in Massachusetts lasted for nine months - causing significant long-term impacts on groundwater, lakes, rivers, streams, and other water bodies across the state. Even under normal conditions, state agencies are still encouraging smart water usage, and they continue to evaluate the emergency planning efforts that are put into place during times of drought to better serve the Commonwealth. To help protect Massachusetts’ water resources, larger buildings and businesses are encouraged to conduct water audits to identify areas of leaks and potential water conservation. Residents are asked to reduce indoor water use and address leaks as soon as possible. These steps will significantly help reduce water use to ensure the Commonwealth has healthy streams and rivers and there is enough water to sustain our water supplies. Smart water use and water conservation throughout the year helps to keep our waterways and water bodies healthy all year, and could help alleviate the problems we face under drought conditions.
So what does this mean for property/homeowners, applicants, and representatives when you're filing with the Conservation Commission? The main good news is that wetland scientists can now conduct and collect field observations to determine if a stream is intermittent. As a reminder: for the Northeast Region (which includes the town of Newbury), observations of dry streams collected between May 1, 2022 and February 13, 2023 MAY NOT be submitted as proof that a stream is intermittent, as these are the active drought dates for this region.
To view the full press release, please click here. If you have any questions regarding drought status or stream observation regulations, please contact the Conservation Agent at 978-465-0862 ext 310, or by email at conscom@townofnewbury.org.