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State drought bill would let DEP set regional outdoor water limits; supporters call for swift action
Summary
A bill to give the state stronger, regionally tailored authority to impose limits on nonessential outdoor water use drew broad support at a Joint Committee hearing, with conservation groups, municipal officials and water experts saying Massachusetts needs a coordinated, science-based response to increasingly frequent droughts.
A bill to give the state a stronger, regional drought-management role drew broad support at a June hearing, with water managers, conservation groups and municipal officials testifying that Massachusetts needs coordinated, data-driven restrictions on nonessential outdoor water use.
The legislation, filed as Senate 586 and House 1003 and championed in testimony by Senator Adam G. Eldridge and others, would empower the Department of Environmental Protection-backed drought management task force to set region-specific conservation measures when watersheds are stressed. Proponents said the change is intended to replace the current patchwork of town-by-town restrictions with consistent, transparent rules that reflect regional hydrology and provide predictability for residents, farmers and businesses.
“The bill empowers the state's existing experts to protect our public health and natural resources using data…
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