Level 2 Drought Declared Statewide
MARION — Town Administrator James McGrail and Marion Public Works Director David Willett would like to remind residents of the town’s current water restrictions and to be mindful of their water use following the Level 2 Drought declaration by the state.
The Massachusetts Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs’ (EEA) has declared a Level 2 Significant Drought in all seven regions of the Commonwealth as a result of above-normal temperatures throughout July and early August and more than three months of below normal rainfall.
The Town of Marion’s current water restrictions remain in place and residents are reminded to be mindful of their water use. These restrictions only allow for outside watering from 6-8 a.m. and 6-8 p.m. on an odd-even day basis, whereby customers with even numbered street addresses may conduct watering on Monday, Wednesday and Friday, and those with odd numbered addresses on Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday. Customers may wash vehicles and water plants on Sundays by means of a hand-held hose between the hours of 6 a.m. and noon.
The town’s water restriction information is available here. Town officials will continue to monitor the situation and residents will be informed of any changes to the current water restrictions.
The EEA’s decision to declare a Level 2 drought was informed by recommendations and a meeting of the Drought Management Task Force (DMTF), composed of state and federal officials, and will remain in effect until water levels return to normal in the affected regions, including Marion.
Outlined in the Massachusetts Drought Management Plan, at a Level 2 – Significant Drought, conditions are becoming significantly dry and warrant an emphasis on water conservation and more stringent watering restrictions in affected municipalities.
Drought conditions result in dry grass, shrubs and forest areas, as well as dry soil conditions, increasing the wildland fire risk across the state. Fires that burn among these conditions can take multiple days to extinguish and exhaust local resources. Therefore, state fire officials also remind the public to be careful with the disposal of combustible materials.
The state asks residents in every region to be mindful of the amount of water they are using, to be proactive in reducing or eliminating outdoor water use, to reduce indoor water use and to address plumbing leaks as soon as possible.
The declaration of a significant drought requires the DMTF to meet on a regular basis to assess conditions across the state and provide information to the public. The Task Force will meet on a monthly basis or as frequently as conditions warrant. The next meeting is scheduled for Thursday, Sept. 3, at 1 p.m. and will be held virtually via Zoom.
For further information on water conservation and what residents and communities can do, visit the EEA’s drought page.
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