Town of Amherst Announces Significant Drought Water Use Restrictions
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Source: amherstma.gov
The Massachusetts Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs has declared the Connecticut River Valley to be in a Level 2 Significant Drought as a result of below normal rainfall over the last three months. The Massachusetts Drought Management Task Force will meet again in the first week of October to reassess conditions.
The Town of Amherst’s water supply remains stable and not currently threatened by the drought situation. However, in accordance with the Town’s Water Management Act Registration, the Town of Amherst is implementing the following water use restrictions:
- All nonessential outdoor water uses are banned.
- Exception: watering of ornamental and flower gardens with drip irrigation, handheld hose, or water cans.
Essential Uses of Water
- Health and safety reasons, including public facilities used for cooling such as the splash pad and swimming pools.
- Production of food, including privately-owned home vegetable gardens.
- Maintenance of livestock.
- Core functions of a business, limited to plant nurseries, golf courses, wedding venues and professional washing for construction purposes.
- Irrigation of public or interscholastic athletic fields, and public parks, with restrictions
- Watering of publicly funded shade trees.
Nonessential Uses of Water
- Irrigation of lawns via sprinklers or automatic irrigation systems.
- Washing of vehicles, except in a commercial car wash or as necessary for operator safety.
- Washing of exterior building surfaces, parking lots, driveways or sidewalks, except as necessary to apply surface treatments such as paint, preservatives, stucco, pavement, or concrete.
Enforcement
Water Department staff will be patrolling Amherst for violations of the nonessential outdoor water use restrictions. Violators will be given the following notices:
- First notice – Property visit from staff to discuss the restrictions, if not home a hand/door tag with information on the restrictions will be left for the property owner
- Second notice/First offense – $50 fine
- Subsequent notices/offenses – $100 fine
More Information
This Level 2 Significant Drought declaration was made following a recommendation from the Massachusetts Drought Management Task Force (DMTF), which is composed of officials from state departments, federal agencies, and relevant regional organizations. Several factors are considered when determining a drought including precipitation, groundwater levels, streamflow, lakes and impoundments, evapotranspiration, and fire potential. The declaration will remain in effect until water levels return to normal conditions.
