The Mass. Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs announced that the region that includes Watertown has reached Critical Drought levels. See more information in the announcement from the City of Watertown, below.
During the month of May, the state of Massachusetts received between 1-3 inches of rain, which was 1.3 to 3 inches below normal.
Rivers and streams throughout the region are running below normal levels, even if they may have seen a slight increase right after a rain event. These decreasing levels are an indicator that groundwater levels continue to go down.
There is a Level 3 – Critical Drought in the Northeast Region, which includes Watertown.
For Regions in Level 3 – Critical Drought, Residents and Businesses should:
– Minimize overall water use;
– Stop all non-essential outdoor watering;
– Follow state water conservation actions and any local water use restrictions;
– Monitor total household water use shown on your water bill for sudden increases, which often indicate leaks. Use the MA Home Water Use Calculator tool to evaluate household water use;
– Fix any toilet or faucet leaks immediately. Check for leaks in homes and businesses regularly b checking water meters for constant dial movement by using dye tabs to check for toilet leaks, and conducting regular inspections of all pipes and fixtures, including those located in utility rooms, crawlspaces, and other hidden areas
– Use dishwashers rather than handwashing dishes. Run the dishwasher only on a full load;
– Aggressively reduce indoor water use by taking showers and avoiding baths, reducing shower length and consider using a shower timer , running washing machines only on a full load , not letting water run while brushing and shaving, replacing old fixtures and appliances with water-efficient ones, and make sure toilets, faucets, and showerheads are WaterSense labeled .