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Outdoor Water Use Restrictions for Cities, Towns, and Golf Courses

Learn about any water restrictions that may currently be in place in your city or town.

This table shows the latest update for the water use restrictions for Massachusetts communities. MassDEP regularly updates this list during the monitoring season (normally May 1 through Sep. 30).

Please contact your local public water supplier for further information.

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Current City and Town Water Restrictions

Water Use Restrictions Map

MassDEP regularly updates this map and list during the monitoring season (normally May 1 through Sep. 30). The list is also available as a downloadable PDF, linked below.

Additional Resources

Current Water Use Restrictions List - Sept. 2, 2022 (PDF 129.06 KB)

Restriction Information

Water suppliers utilize emergency restrictions or bans on non-essential water use to reduce water consumption by their consumers. These restrictions vary by water system or community, but often include:

  • Limitations on the hours of the day you may water
  • Limitations on the number of days per week you may water
  • Restrictions to automatic sprinklers or irrigation systems
  • A complete ban on outdoor watering.

You can find out if there is a water restriction by contacting your local community government or public water supplier.

Public Water Suppliers should use the "Notification of Water Use Restriction Form" provided below to notify MassDEP of any restrictions they put in place.

You can find more drought and water restriction information from:

  • The Department of Conservation & Recreation
  • MassDEP's Water Management Act Program

Additional Resources

DCR Drought Management
Water Management Act Program
MassDEP Model Water Use Restriction Bylaw/Ordinance
Notification of Golf Course Water Use Restriction (PDF 104.8 KB)
Notification of Golf Course Water Use Restriction (DOCX 85.84 KB)
Notification of Water Use Restriction Form (DOC 141.5 KB)
Notification of Water Use Restriction Form (PDF 119.4 KB)
PWS, Active Sources, and Contacts Spreadsheet (Rev. September 2022) (XLSX 517.58 KB)

Water Conservation Pilot Program: Lawn Watering Reduction

The Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) implemented a behavior-change campaign pilot in the summer of 2018 with the water systems associated with the communities of Concord, West Springfield, and Hingham (Aquarion Water Company) with the goal of reducing summer water usage. The current pilot builds on the findings from the Massachusetts Division of Ecological Restoration’s (DER) community-based social marketing project in the Ipswich watershed, conducted in the summer of 2017.

To select potential water systems for participation, DEP reviewed annual statistical reports to create a short list of water systems with high summer-to-winter water use differences, suggesting there is a significant amount of lawn watering occurring. DEP reached out to the water supplier to provide an overview of the project. The towns of Concord and West Springfield, as well as Hingham, supplied by the Aquarion Water Company, opted in to the pilot.

You can read the report and find a quick results flyer below.

Additional Resources

Water Conservation Pilot
Water Conservation Pilot Program: Lawn Watering Reduction (PDF 5.63 MB)
Water Conservation Pilot Campaign: Lawn Watering Reduction Flyer (PDF 2.92 MB)

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