Haverhill declares drought emergency as reservoir levels fall; outdoor watering banned March 19

Haverhill Mayor Melinda E. Barrett announced a local drought emergency effective March 19 after city water officials reported reservoir levels well below normal for this time of year.

The declaration, presented at the March 18 City Council meeting, responds to a multimonth dry stretch and a Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection designation of the region as in a critical (Level 3) drought, Mayor Barrett said. Robert (Bob) Ward, director of the Department of Public Works, told councilors the city’s main storage, Kenoza Lake, sits roughly 10 feet below full (current level 104.8 feet; full = 114.5 feet) and that overall watershed recovery is about a month to six weeks behind typical seasonal trends.

Why it matters: the drought declaration triggers a ban on nonessential outdoor water use, activates the city’s drought-management ordinance and gives officials authority to enforce limits to preserve supplies while spring and early-summer demand rises.

Ward walked the council through reservoir and usage facts the city is using to justify the emergency. Kenoza Lake provided about 2,100,000,000 gallons pumped during calendar 2024; Millvale Reservoir…