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Haverhill water director warns of low reservoir levels, council refers drought response to planning committee
Summary
Water Director Robert Ward told the Haverhill City Council that Kenoza Lake is about 6.5 feet below full and the city is in a state-level drought warning; the council voted unanimously to send longer-term planning and possible ordinance updates to the Planning & Development subcommittee.
Kenoza Lake was 107.8 feet on the day of the council meeting — about 6.7 feet below its full elevation of 114.5 feet — and Haverhill is now inside a state-declared drought warning area, the citys water director told the City Council.
"We are in a much better position right now than we were last March," Water Director Robert E. Ward said, contrasting the current voluntary conservation stance with the mandatory outdoor restrictions the city adopted during a spring emergency drought declaration. He warned that this years June
ugust rainfall totals were well below the 35-year average and that daily demand has risen: Ward gave August average daily use as about 6,700,000 gallons in 2025 compared with roughly 5,820,000 gallons in an especially wet August of 2024.
Ward outlined the citys drought-management framework, which the transcript notes is codified in city code chapter 250, and encouraged voluntary measures now: limit outdoor watering, turn off automated sprinkler systems, use no-rinse washing options, check toilets and faucets for leaks and use commercial car washes that recycle water. The city will publicize conservation steps through Everbridge, social media and the municipal website.
During council questions, Councilor Basilear asked whether Kenoza Lake elevation is above sea level (Ward confirmed it is) and whether the citys plan to draw water from the Merrimack River is progressing. Ward said the city is working on parcel acquisition for a proposed East Broadway well site and that the legal route "right now, it's looking like eminent domain." Several councilors urged updating the drought-management ordinance and collecting data on whether voluntary measures reduce use.
Councilor Ferreira moved to send the water-department report and related drought-plan review to the Planning & Development subcommittee for further study; Vice President Jordan seconded the motion. The roll call vote was 11-0 in favor. The council referred the item for a future subcommittee hearing.
The council did not adopt mandatory restrictions at the meeting; Ward said the city will continue monitoring reservoir levels and encourage voluntary conservation to forestall future mandatory limits.
