Agency official says DEP raised drought to 'significant'; nonessential outdoor watering banned with limited exception

An agency official said at a local meeting that the state Department of Environmental Protection has raised the drought declaration to "significant," prompting an increase in local water-use restrictions that ban nonessential outdoor watering.

"All non-essential outdoor water use is banned except with the exception of handheld hose use to keep it short," the agency official said, directing residents to the municipal website for full details of the restrictions.

The action follows a worsening dry spell, the official said, noting the town’s obligations under its Water Management Act permit require it to adopt the more stringent state-led measures. "This is an action by the state to protect the overall aquifer that is underneath all of Eastern Massachusetts," the official said.

The official explained why neighboring communities may face different rules: municipalities that rely on surface water reservoirs — the official cited Attleboro as an example — "are not required to follow the same restrictions that we are," because their supply sources differ. The official said North Attleboro and Plainville, which rely more on well water, received the same notice and are expected to act similarly.

Officials emphasized that recent rainfall will not immediately reverse drought conditions and urged compliance with the temporary limits. The speaker said the town posted specifics and permitted exceptions on the municipal website and that related local actions will follow the state’s directive.

The official closed by reiterating the purpose of the restrictions — to protect the regional aquifer beneath eastern Massachusetts — and asked residents to observe the new limits while the town implements the state-directed measures.