Lincoln has gone to Stage 4 of watering restriction measures, meaning that all outdoor watering except for once-weekly drip irrigation and limited hand watering is banned until further notice.
The move comes just days after a July 17 announcement that the town had gone to Stage 3 restrictions (watering allowed once a week). Since then, Massachusetts has experienced a heat wave, and no rain is in sight for the immediate future.
Lincoln follows guidelines set out by Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs, which declared a “significant” drought on July 12 and a “critical” drought on July 21 in northeastern and central Massachusetts. Those guidelines ask residents to minimize overall water use (both town and well water, which draws from the same aquifer) and stop all non-essential outdoor watering, which means any watering that’s not required for health or safety reasons, food production livestock maintenance, or to meet the core functions of a business.
“For the time being, the Water Department is allowing hand watering by hose of personal vegetable gardens and watering by bucket or watering can of non-vegetable plantings. Using water from rain barrels or excess water from household activities is preferred,” Water Commission Chair Ruth Ann Hendrickson said on July 26.
Water Department staff will drive around town in the early mornings to check for water sprinklers in use and will leave warning cards for homes that are in violation. Some residents have automatic systems that they forget to adjust, or can’t right away because they’re away on vacation.
The town’s water use restriction bylaw mandates a $50 fine for the first violation and $100 for each subsequent violation. However, fines will not be assessed right away. “People need time to hear about it and adjust to it,” Hendrickson said.
The Water Commission plans to meet on Friday, July 29 at 1 p.m. to discuss the town’s drought response and to take a detailed look at the town’s water withdrawal permit and other sources of information “to see what wiggle room we have,” she added.
Since the Stage 4 status was announced on LincolnTalk on July 24, residents have offered several creative tips for water conservation, such as outdoor watering using water from pasta boiling, salad spinners, dehumidifiers, air conditioners, sump pumps, and showers (caught in a bucket while waiting for the water to get hot).
The last time the area experienced a “critical” drought was in August 2016, when area pond and reservoir levels were extremely low. Lincoln’s watering restriction stages have gotten somewhat more stringent since then.
More information:
- Indoor water conservation
- Outdoor water conservation
- FAQ on private wells (page 96 of the state Drought Management Plan)
| 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 |