Water Conservation Restrictions

Current Status: Level 2 Significant Drought 
Lawn Irrigation Prohibited / Essential Hand Held Watering Allowed

Effective June 26, 2026, the Weir River Water System is at a Level 2 Water Conservation Plan.  

All non-essential outdoor usage is prohibited (lawn irrigation; washing vehicles, exterior building surfaces, parking lots, driveways, and sidewalks; and, filling swimming pools).  Hand held watering for gardens, landscape plantings and other essential needs is allowed.

We thank you in advance for your cooperation and support while addressing this, as it is important to maintain adequate tank levels for both potable water and fire protection. 

All violations and fines will be enforced. 

  • First Violation – Written Notice and $50.00 fine
  • Second Violation – Written Notice and $100.00 fine
  • Subsequent Violations – Termination of service, $100.00 fine, reactivation fees

Drought Status

Find out the Current Drought Status in Massachusetts, learn about past droughts and find past drought declaration maps.

Massachusetts Drought Management Plan, December 2023 (Mass.gov)

Report a Water Restriction Violation

Please complete the Water Restriction Violation Report Form if you see activity you believe to be outside of current water restrictions.  

Water Education

WaterSmart

Are you WaterSmart? Whether it’s in our homes, at our businesses or on our streets, we can all do our part to keep our water clean, plentiful, and affordable. We can all be WaterSmart. Visit WaterSmartSouthShore.org

Greenscapes Guide

Greenscapes are ealthy, beautiful yards that protect our water. Greenscapes are yards bursting with color and visual interest that are easy, efficient and cost-effective to maintain. Greenscapes drastically lower water consumption, and let nature do most of the work, keeping our yards beautiful so we don’t have to!

Read More! GreenScapes Guide (PDF)

Gardening and Landscaping Water Conservation Tips from MWRA

Summer is an especially important time to save water.  Outdoor water use increases residential consumption from 10% to 50% in June, July, August and September.  These tips will show you ways to use water more efficiently outdoors, save money - and help lower garden maintenance, too!

Visit the MWRA page to access these tips at: https://www.mwra.com/your-water-system/water-conservation/garden-landscaping

Simple Steps to Conserve Water

Download Flyer  (PDF)

Inside the Home

By giving your bathroom a water efficiency makeover with WaterSense labeled toilets and faucets, you could save more than 11,000 gallons annually—and that’s no drop in the bucket.

Get Flush With Savings 

  • Consider installing a WaterSense labeled toilet, which uses 20 percent less water while offering equal or superior performance. Compared to older, inefficient models, WaterSense labeled toilets could save a family of four more than $90 annually on its water utility bill, and $2,000 over the lifetime of the toilets.
  • Check for toilet leaks by adding food coloring to the tank. If the toilet is leaking, color will appear in the bowl within 15 minutes. (Make sure to flush as soon as the test is done, since food coloring can stain the tank.)

Accessorize Your Faucet

  • Installing a WaterSense labeled aerator is one of the most cost-effective ways to save water. Also consider replacing the entire faucet with a WaterSense labeled model. Either way, you can increase the faucet’s efficiency by 30 percent without sacrificing performance. 
  • Repair dripping faucets and showerheads. A drip rate of one drip per second can waste more than 3,000 gallons per year.

Clean Up With Savings

  • A full bathtub can require up to 70 gallons of water, while taking a 5-minute shower uses only 10 to 25 gallons.
  • Turning off the tap while you brush your teeth can save 8 gallons per day.

Lighten Your Loads

  • Wash only full loads of dishes and clothes or lower the water settings for smaller loads.
  • Replace your old washing machine with a high-efficiency, ENERGY STAR® labeled model, which uses up to 50 percent less water and electricity.

Outside the Home

The average single-family suburban home uses at least 30 percent of its water for  outdoor purposes such as irrigation and as much as 70 percent in dry climates.  Some experts estimate that more than 50 percent of landscape water is wasted due  to evaporation, wind, or overwatering. 

Water When Needed 

  • Water your lawn or garden during the cool morning hours, as opposed to midday, to reduce evaporation.
  • Look for sprinklers that produce droplets, not mist, or use soaker hoses or trickle irri­gation for trees and shrubs.
  • Set sprinklers to water lawns and gardens only. Check that you’re not watering the street or sidewalk.
  • Try not to overwater your landscaping. Learn plants’ water needs and water different types appropriately.

Grow Green Grass 

  • Don’t overfertilize. You will increase the lawn’s need for water.
  • Raise your lawn mower blade to at least 3 inches. Taller grass promotes deeper roots, shades the root system, and holds soil moisture better than a closely cropped lawn. 

Garden With Care 

  • Plant climate-appropriate species. Try plants that are native to where you live, which don’t require as much water, and group plants together by water requirements.
  • Use mulch around trees and plants to help reduce evaporation and control water-stealing weeds.