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Needham prepares for state-ordered watering restrictions effective April 8 as town pursues legal challenge
Summary
Town staff told the Water and Sewer Rate Structure Committee that a Water Management Act requirement will force a watering restriction beginning April 8; the town is contesting the rule in court, will focus enforcement on education, and expects reduced irrigation revenue if the restriction remains.
The Town of Needham must implement state-mandated watering restrictions beginning April 8 under the Water Management Act, a town staff member told the Water and Sewer Rate Structure Committee on March 18.
The restrictions come from the town’s registered water use and apply while the state’s drought designation remains at level 2; town staff said the town is contesting the regulations in court but must follow them while litigation proceeds.
Karis, a town staff member who presented the update, said, “we have a requirement through the Water Management Act on our registered water use that requires the town to implement a fairly strict water restriction, that needs to be made effective April 8.” She said the town is pursuing an appeal but that the case had not been resolved.
The committee heard that under a level 2 designation irrigation systems would be prohibited from…
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