Mandatory nonessential outdoor water restrictions are a regulatory requirement of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection (MassDEP) and is in keeping with regional water conservation efforts.
The goal of the Commonwealth is to reduce residential water use to 65 gallons per person per day to ensure a that an adequate supply of water is available for sustainability, fire protection, to protect natural resources and streamflow for aquatic life.
Nonessential outdoor water use is allowed two-days per week, before 9 am or after 5 pm, on a schedule based on the last digit of a street address and designated watering days of the week;
Street addresses ending with an EVEN number (0, 2, 4, 6, 8) may engage in nonessential outdoor watering on Tuesday and Saturday, before 9 am or after 5 pm
Street addresses ending with an ODD number (1, 3, 5, 7, 9) may engage in nonessential outdoor watering on Wednesday and Sunday, before 9 am or after 5 pm
Uses subject to restrictions:
- Irrigation of lawns via sprinklers or automatic irrigation systems;
- filling swimming pools;
- washing of vehicles, except in a commercial car wash or as necessary for operator safety; and
- washing exterior building surfaces, parking lots, driveways, or sidewalks, except as necessary to apply surface treatments such as paint, preservatives, stucco, pavement, or cement.
Allowable uses even when restrictions are in place include:
- Irrigation to establish a new lawn and new plantings during the months of May and September;
- irrigation of public parks and recreational fields by means of automatic sprinklers, outside of the hours of 9 am to 5 pm;
- irrigation of gardens, flowers, and ornamental plants by means of a hand-held hose or drip irrigation systems; and
- irrigation of lawns by means of a hand-held hose.
Restriction Exemptions:
- For health or safety reasons;
- by regulation;
- for the production of food and fiber;
- for the maintenance of livestock; or
- to meet the core functions of a business (for example, irrigation by golf courses as necessary to maintain tees, greens, and limited fairway watering, or irrigation by plant nurseries as necessary to maintain stock);
- private wells, though all water users are encouraged to follow restriction guidelines.
When the USGS stream gage 01108000 Concord River at Meadow Brook at Lowell Massachusetts falls below 71 cubic feet per second (cfs) for three (3) consecutive days nonessential outdoor water use is allowed one-day per week, before 9 am or after 5 pm, on a schedule based on the last digit of the street address and designated day of the week:
- Street addresses ending with an EVEN number (0, 2, 4, 6, 8) may engage in nonessential outdoor watering on Saturday only, before 9 am or after 5 pm
- Street addresses ending with an ODD number (1, 3, 5, 7,9) may engage in nonessential outdoor watering on SUNDAY only, before 9 am or after 5 pm
Once streamflow-triggered restrictions are implemented, they shall remain in place until the streamflow at the gage meets or exceeds 71 cfs for seven (7) consecutive days.
The Board of Water Commissioners having authority and responsibility for the operation and maintenance of the public water supply may declare emergency-drought-triggered restrictions ensuring that an adequate supply of water for drinking and fire protection is readily available.
- Non-essential outdoor watering is prohibited
Once emergency-drought-triggered restrictions are implemented, they shall remain in place until the Board of Water Commissioners deems that an adequate supply of water for drinking and fire protection is readily available.
- Irrigation of lawns via sprinklers or automatic irrigation systems;
- filling swimming pools:
- washing of vehicles, except in a commercial car wash or as necessary for operator safety; and
- washing exterior building surfaces, parking lots, driveways, or sidewalks, except as necessary to apply surface treatments such as paint, preservatives, stucco, pavement, or cement.
- Irrigation to establish a new lawn and new plantings during the months of May and September;
- irrigation of public parks and recreational fields by means of automatic sprinklers (outside of the hours of 9 am to 5 pm);
- irrigation of gardens, flowers, and ornamental plants by means of a hand-held hose or drip irrigation systems; and
- irrigation of lawns by means of a hand-held hose.
- For health or safety reasons;
- by regulation;
- for the production of food and fiber;
- for the maintenance of livestock; or
- to meet the core functions of a business (for example, irrigation by golf courses as necessary to maintain tees, greens, and limited fairway watering, or irrigation by plant nurseries as necessary to maintain stock)
- private wells (although all water users are encouraged to follow restriction guidelines.
The District through its Board of Water Commissioners or their designee, the Executive Director may enforce nonessential outdoor water use restriction rules and regulations. Any person violating this bylaw shall be liable to the Sudbury Water District in the amounts listed below:
- First Offense: Written Warning
- Second Offence: $50.00 fine
- Third Offense: $100.00 fine
- Fourth Offense: $150.00 fine
- Subsequent offenses, Termination of Water Service
- Each offense is considered a separate fine
The Executive Office of Energy & Environmental Affairs (EEA) provides you with up-to-date information on drought issues in the Commonwealth. You can view maps and charts that label which regions are experiencing drought conditions. You can also view data used to determine drought conditions.
Whereas the Board of Water Commissioners has determined that a shortage of water exists and conservation measures are necessary to ensure an adequate supply of water to all consumers and;
Whereas the conditions set forth in the Water Management Act Permit 9P3-14288.01 require seasonal limits on nonessential outdoor water use, and:
Whereas the Board of Water Commissioners is empowered under M.C.L. c. 41, sec. 69B to take action to ensure an adequate supply of water to all water consumers, therefore be it resolved.
Pursuant to the Sudbury Water District Rules and Regulations, General Regulations 20 and 21 of the Board of Water Commissioners declare the following water conservation measures and are hereby implemented:
Level 1. Calendar Triggered Restrictions Annually, May 1-September 30: Non-essential outdoor watering is limited to two days per week according to the last digit of the street address number and designated day of the week;
- Street addresses ending in an Even-number (0, 2, 4, 6, or 8) may engage in nonessential outdoor water use on Saturdays and Tuesdays (before 9 am or after 5 pm);
- Street addresses ending in an Odd-number (1, 3, 5, 7, or 9) may engage in nonessential outdoor water use on Sundays or Wednesdays (before 9 am or after 5 pm.)
Level 2. Restriction Streamflow Triggered Restrictions (when USGS Stream Gage 01108000 Concord River at Meadow Brook, Lowell, MA falls below 71 CFS for three (3) consecutive days: Nonessential outdoor water use is allowed to one (1) day per week according to the last digit of the street address number and designated day of the week;
- Street addresses ending in an Even-number (0, 2, 4, 6, or 8) may engage in non-essential outdoor water use on Saturdays only (before 9 am or after 5 pm);
- Street addresses ending in an Odd-numbered (1, 3, 5, 7, or 9) may engage in non-essential outdoor water use on Sunday only (before 9 am or after 5 pm)
- Once streamflow triggered restrictions are implemented they shall remain in effect until the Streamflow Gage meets or exceeds 71 CFS for seven (7) consecutive days.
Level 3. Emergency Drought Triggered Restriction: Nonessential outdoor water use is prohibited
- Once the Board of Water Commissioners having authority and responsibility for the operation and maintenance of the public water supply has declared emergency-drought-triggered restrictions nonessential outdoor water use will be prohibited until in their opinion an adequate supply of water for drinking and fire protection is readily available.
Non-essential outdoor water uses that are subject to mandatory restriction include:
- Irrigation of lawns via sprinklers or automatic irrigation systems;
- Washing of vehicles, except in a commercial car wash or as necessary for operator safety and;
- Washing of exterior building surfaces, parking lots, driveways, or sidewalks, except as necessary to apply surface treatments such as paint, preservatives, stucco, pavement, or cement.
Nonessential outdoor water uses allowed even during a period of restriction:
- Irrigation to establish a new lawn and new plantings during the months of May and September before 9 am or after 5 pm;
- Irrigation of public parks and recreational fields by means of automatic sprinklers outside the hours and;
- Watering of lawns, gardens, flowers, and ornamental plants by means of a hand-held hose.
The Board of Water Commissioners calls upon all water users to conserve water whenever possible and to observe the above-listed water restrictions. These restrictions apply to the public water supply. The Board encourages those on private wells to follow these restrictions.
Enforcement shall be pursuant to the provisions of General Regulation No 24 of the Sudbury Water District.
The Water Conservation Standards set statewide goals for water conservation and water-use efficiency and provide guidance on effective conservation measures. Standards represent best practices. Recommendations represent emerging thinking in water-use efficiency.
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