What Do The 'Drought Advisory' Signs Mean?

Editor's note: In our column "You Ask, Patch Answers," we help you to find answers to your questions. Email westborough@patch.com if you have a question that you would like us to investigate.

Today, we answer this emailed inquiry: "There are signs at the Westborough rotary: 'Drought Advisory.' What does this mean?"

Westborough Patch asked Westborough Department of Public Works Operations Manager Dennis Cote about this today.

The DPW implemented a mandatory water ban earlier this week as required by its Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection Water Management Act Permit, he said.

The permit requires Westborough to implement the restrictions when the streamflow at the Assabet River in Maynard falls below 119 cubic feet per second for three straight days, Cote said.

That milestone happened last Friday, said Cote, who reads the gauge.

The mandatory water ban is posted on Westborough's website.

The rules prohibit these tasks from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.: "Irrigation of lawns via sprinklers or automatic irrigation systems"; "Washing of vehicles, except in a commercial car wash or as necessary for operator safety" and "Washing of exterior building surfaces, parking lots, driveways or sidewalks, except as necessary to apply surface treatments such as paint, preservatives, stucco, pavement or cement."