Most of the state is now in a Level 2 “Significant Drought” condition, and it appears that the current weather pattern with limited rain will continue for some time. As a result, the Water Department has imposed Stage 3 watering restrictions, meaning that homes on town water are now permitted to do lawn and garden watering with sprinklers and soaker hoses just one day a week — down from the previous two days (see chart below). Handheld watering may still be done any time. The move is required as part of the town’s detailed Drought Management Plan.
Because Lincoln consistently exceeds the maximum annual and daily per-capita water withdrawal amounts stipulated in its state permit, the town is required by MassDEP to implement water conservation measures one step more strict than the current drought level declaration would normally call for. For the same reason, Lincoln automatically starts each watering season on May 1 with Stage 2 restrictions.
| Stage 1 | Stage 2 | Stage 3 | Stage 4 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hand-held watering | Allowed 6pm–9am | Allowed 7pm–7am | Allowed 7pm–7am | Allowed 7pm–7am |
| Above-ground/ in-ground sprinklers | Allowed 7pm–7am | • Even house #s: Tues & Sat • Odd house #s Wed & Sun | • Even house #s: Sat only • Odd house #s: Sun only | Not allowed |
| Soaker hoses | Allowed any time | 2 days a week | 1 day a week | Not allowed |
| Drip irrigation | Allowed any time | 2 days a week | 1 day a week | 1 day a week |
| New lawns | Allowed any time | June & Sept. only: 20 days of daily watering, then 2 days a week, 7pm–7am | June & Sept. only: 20 days of daily watering, then 1 day a week, 7pm–7am | Not allowed |
| Washing vehicles | Allowed any time | Commercial services only | Commercial services only | Commercial services only |
| Washing buildings, pavement | Allowed any time | Not allowed | Not allowed | Not allowed |
| Swimming pools, hot tubs, spas, Jacuzzis | Allowed any time | One fill per season for new or repaired equipment | Topping off only (3" per month) | Topping off or refill not allowed |
| Car wash fundraisers | Allowed any time | Allowed any time | Not allowed | Not allowed |
| Games or toys with continuous water | Allowed any time | Allowed any time (30 mins/day) on specified day (see row #2) | Allowed any time (30 mins/day) on specified day (see row #2) | Not allowed |