Easton Increases Water Restrictions Amid 'Significant' Drought

EASTON, MA — Easton residents will be restricted to watering their lawns once per week during the early morning hours after the town instituted Phase III restrictions starting this week.

The Easton Water Division said the restrictions are necessitated due to a regional drought in which the water flow of the Taunton River dropped below 47 cubic feet per second.

Under Phase III, residents in even-numbered houses can only use lawn sprinklers on Mondays from 5 to 8 a.m. Those in odd-numbered houses can use sprinklers only on Tuesdays from 5 to 8 a.m.

Sprinklers are prohibited the rest of the week. Hand-held hoses are allowed for lawn and garden watering.

The Easton Water Department said that the restrictions will remain in place until water flow in the river exceeds 47 cubic feet for seven consecutive days.

The state Department of Energy and Environmental Affairs (EEA) last week declared the entire state in a level 2 significant drought.

That comes after multiple scorching heat waves and very little rain sofar this summer — Tropical Storm Isaias only brought brief periods of rain to eastern Massachusetts on Aug. 4.

"All levels of government are coordinating to address these critical drought conditions, and it is essential that residents and businesses across the Commonwealth take extra care to conserve water both indoors and outdoors and be mindful of the increased risk of wildland fires when using any fire or smoking materials," EEA Secretary Kathleen Theoharides said Thursday in declaring the drought.

More information on the restrictions can be found here.