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City places drought status report on file as water department urges continued conservation
Summary
The council placed the Water Department’s drought status report on file after staff outlined outreach steps and told the public that Cambridge reservoirs were slightly below the 15‑year median but not at emergency levels; officials said conservation measures and targeted outreach to large users had reduced demand.
The Cambridge City Council on June 9 received and placed on file the city’s drought status report, after hearing from staff about outreach, interdepartmental coordination and contingency planning.
The report summarized recent rainfall and reservoir levels, outreach steps taken to reach large water users and the public, and operational planning the Water Department has implemented to avoid switching to wholesale MWRA supply except if necessary. Councilors praised the department’s proactive outreach and asked whether the approach and messaging can be quickly redeployed if drought conditions recur.
City staff told the council that targeted messaging and direct outreach to large users — universities and large property owners — had a measurable effect on reducing production in May compared with the prior year. The city manager and deputy confirmed that staff is prepared to re‑deploy the outreach package and to emphasize conservation if reservoirs fall again.
The council voted to place the drought status report on file; staff said they would continue to monitor conditions and coordinate messages through the city’s communications office and with large water users.
