Current Water Ban/Conservation Regulations

Water System Capacity and Water Ban Update

Water Supply Emergency: Full Nonessential Outdoor Watering Ban

Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection Unilateral Administrative Order

Effective immediately, a full ban on nonessential outdoor watering is in place due to a Water Supply Emergency Declaration. This ban will remain until further notice.

Due to high summer water demand, the DPW has had to activate an emergency water connection with the Town of Lexington for the second time. Current water use has exceeded the combined capacity of our treatment plant and MWRA connection, causing storage tank levels to drop. This risks inadequate water for fire protection, pressure, and availability.

The Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection (MassDEP) has mandated this ban until the emergency is resolved. Despite annual restrictions (every-other-day watering based on even/odd addresses) to meet State requirements, this summer’s water usage has spiked to levels not seen in at least five years. Daily summer usage has peaked as high as 5.1 million gallons in a day, while the winter usage is as low as 2.2 million gallons in a day. The overwhelming majority of this 3 million gallons a day is for outdoor lawn irrigation.

The following is a list of acceptable outdoor water uses:

1. for health or safety reasons, including public facilities used for cooling such as splash pads and swimming pools, and for washing of boats, engines, or marine equipment to prevent negative saltwater impacts or the transfer of invasive aquatic species (anyone seeking this exemption for a pool must receive prior approval from DPW, or it will be considered a water violation; new pool fill ups will not be allowed, and a water truck will need to be used);
2. by permit, license, statute or regulation;
3. for the production of food, including vegetable gardens, and fiber;
4. for the maintenance of livestock;
5. to meet the core functions (those functions essential to the commercial operations) of a business, including but not limited to:
   1. plant nurseries as necessary to maintain stock;
   2. golf courses as necessary to maintain greens and tees, and limited fairway watering per 310 CMR 36.07(2)(c)2.a. through c.;
   3. venues used for weddings or similar special events that limit watering to hand-held hose or drip irrigation as necessary to maintain gardens, flowers and ornamental plants;
   4. professional washing of exterior building surfaces, parking lots, driveways and/or sidewalks as necessary to apply surface treatments such as paint, preservatives, stucco, pavement, or cement in the course of construction, reconstruction or renovation work;
6. for irrigation of public parks before 9:00 AM and after 5:00 PM;
7. for irrigation of public and private recreation fields, including those operated by schools, colleges, universities and athletic associations, before 9:00 AM and after 5:00 PM;
8. for irrigation of publicly-funded shade trees and trees in the public right-of-way; or
9. to establish a new lawn as necessary to stabilize soil in response to new construction or following the repair or replacement of a Title 5 system. This does not apply to replanting existing lawns or landscaping, which should be scheduled for spring or fall if there is no active water ban. Anyone seeking this exemption must receive prior approval from DPW, or it will be considered a water violation.

The town will enforce this order through state law and town bylaws, and may result in fines for each day there is a violation. Please keep in mind that private wells in Burlington, through the Board of Health, are regulated to the same restrictions and subject to fines for violations. We urge residents to conserve water to protect our community’s water supply. If you have any questions, please contact the DPW at 781-270-1670. Thank you for your cooperation.