- If we are getting so much rain, why are we in a drought?
Droughts happen when there’s not enough rain or snow over an extended period of time. In Massachusetts, our current drought began late last summer (or in early fall on Cape Cod). Several months of very little rain led to very low groundwater levels, low lake and stream levels, and very dry overall conditions that contributed to a record wildfire season. This was followed by less-than-average rain and snow over the winter.
The recent rains are helping us climb our way out of the drought, which can be seen by the higher stream, lake, and reservoir levels. But other drought effects that are harder to see are still lingering, like low groundwater levels and drier soil below the first several inches. Groundwater helps provide water to streams when it is not raining and so is important for healthy streamflow.
Do droughts only occur in the summer?
Droughts can happen any time of year, whenever there are several months in a row of much lower-than-normal rain or snow. The 2024/25 drought was caused by very low rainfall during the fall, followed by less-than-normal snow and rain over the winter, resulting in the state being in a significant drought through parts of the winter and into spring.
Why are outdoor watering restrictions necessary and why are some communities enforcing water restrictions that they never used to before?
State regulations require many water suppliers to enact new restrictions on outdoor watering during droughts. The idea is to make sure we always have enough water for drinking, cooking, cleaning, firefighting, running our businesses, and other essential purposes, even during drought. Using water efficiently is always good practice. It is especially important to do so until we are confident that the streams and groundwater that feed our reservoirs and wells have returned to normal.
We also know that pumping from our reservoirs and wells can lower the levels of nearby streams and wetlands, and we want to minimize these effects during drought, when the plants and animals that depend on them may already be struggling.
What will it take for the drought to end?
If we get a lot of long, deep-soaking rains, we could come out of the drought fairly soon. Short, intense storms do less to replenish the system, because much of the rain runs off into the streams and out to the ocean before it has time to soak into the ground.
If all the drought conditions improve enough – the ones we can easily see, like stream and reservoir levels, and the ones that are harder to see, like groundwater levels and soil moisture – the drought will be declared over, and restrictions may be lifted or reduced. However, in recent years droughts have been happening more often and intensifying more quickly, so drought conditions could return if sustained rainfall does not continue. In fact, parts of Massachusetts have been in a drought in eight of the last ten years.
- What types of outdoor water use may be allowed during drought?
Although your water supplier might require additional restrictions, this is a basic list of water uses that may be allowed during drought.
Water used for:
- health and safety, including drinking water, fire protection, public facilities such as swimming pools and splash pads, and washing boats to prevent saltwater damage or prevent transferring invasive aquatic species among lakes and ponds
- growing food, including vegetable gardens
- maintaining livestock
- businesses such as
- plant nurseries
- golf courses to maintain greens and tees, and limited fairway watering
- venues used for weddings and special events that water using hand-held hose or drip irrigation to maintain gardens and ornamentals
- professional washing needed to apply paint, preservatives, stucco, pavement, or cement during construction or renovation work
- watering public parks and recreation fields before 9:00 a.m. and after 5:00 p.m.
- watering shade trees in public spaces
- watering new lawn as needed to stabilize soil over new construction or following repair or replacement of a Title 5 system.
For more information on the details of what uses may be allowed during drought, check with your individual Public Water Supplier.
- What water use restrictions can I expect during droughts?
Although your local water supplier might require additional restrictions if your water supplies are particularly stressed and running low, this chart shows the state restrictions on non-essential outdoor water use when a drought is declared. “Non-essential outdoor uses” are all outdoor uses except those listed in Question 5, above.
| Level | Tips |
|---|---|
| Level 1 – Mild Drought |
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| Level 2 – Significant Drought |
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| Level 3 – Critical Drought |
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| Level 4 – Emergency Drought |
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What should I do about my landscape?
Consider adapting your landscape to need less irrigation. There are ways you can make it “drought-resilient” and beautiful all year round. Check out the MA Native Plant Palette for ideas.
Why am I seeing my water department sending so much water out of the hydrants if I am required to restrict water use?
When you see a water department using a high volume of water from a hydrant, they are flushing the distribution system to maintain drinking water quality. This is an important maintenance activity that many water systems conduct during the spring and fall, after water main breaks, or to clear up dirty water throughout the year.
For additional information please see: Drought Tips, Tools & Resources
Visit the MA Water Conservation Toolkit for resources related to water efficiency messaging and best practices