Andover Calls For Voluntary Outdoor Water Conservation

ANDOVER, MA — Andover is asking residents to voluntarily limit their water usage, with conditions across most of New England "abnormally dry" amid a period of hot weather.

The Select Board voted Monday evening to implement Phase 3 of the town's Drought Management Plan. This allows the town to put in place mandatory limits on water usage, but Town Manager Andrew Flanagan said those limits are not yet necessary.

Under the plan, the town could limit outdoor watering to alternate days or even ban watering or automatic sprinkler use entirely. Instead, the town is asking residents to water every other day in the early morning or evening.

"It's not anticipated that mandatory restrictions will be necessary," Flanagan said.

The town's water supply is not in jeopardy; the restrictions are in place to limit demand on the town's water infrastructure. Water use was already up due to people being home, Flanagan said, and the recent hot weather spiked usage up to drought-like levels.

North Reading, which buys water from Andover, has limited outdoor watering to two days per week.

The full meeting is available here from AndoverTV.

Christopher Huffaker can be reached at 412-265-8353 or chris.huffaker@patch.com.