Seasonal Water Restrictions in Place for Danvers

Outdoor watering in Danvers is now only allowed between 7 p.m. and 8 a.m.

That's because the town moved to Level 2 of its seasonal water restrictions policy last week. The Department of Public Works explains that the restrictions were put in place when the Mass. Department of Environmental Protection mandated regulations as part of the Water Management Act of 1986.

The act was spurred on by growing concerns of too much stress being placed on river basins that feed public water supplies. In Danvers case, it is one of several communities in the Ipswich River basin, which is identified as one of the most stressed water basins in the country.

The DEP regulations call for an annual summer cap on water use, which runs from May 1 through October 1, restricting Danvers to 3.8 million gallons per day.

The DPW says that conserving water now will reduce the need for the town to implement more stringent restrictions later on in the summer.