Level 2 "Significant Drought" Declared for Medfield and Region

The warm spring season has brought plenty of flowers, but not nearly enough of the usual April showers for Medfield and beyond.

Due to an April 8, 2020 declaration of a "Level 2-Significant Drought" in the Southeast Region of the Commonwealth, and a vote April 13 by the Medfield Water & Sewerage Board, Medfield residents are advised to adhere to an odd/even watering restriction as a conservation measure.

As noted on the Commonwealth of Massachusetts website, "With precipitation, streamflow, and groundwater below normal as the state enters the spring season, Energy and Environmental Affairs (EEA) Secretary Kathleen Theoharides declared a Level 2-Significant Drought in the Southeast Region of the Commonwealth."

Based on additional state information, Massachusetts is segmented into seven drought regions representing broad geographic areas, each with unique precipitation patterns that allow for customized declarations for each region, as needed. Counties in the Southeast Region are Norfolk (except Brookline), Bristol and Plymouth.

Seasonal declarations are the result of recommendations issued by the Massachusetts Drought Management Task Force, which is comprised of state and federal officials, and representatives from other stakeholder entities.

Beyond individual town water restrictions, the Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs (EEA) offers these recommendations for water conservation:

• Select only native and drought resistant plants for new plantings;
• Limit outdoor watering to handheld watering;
• Address leaks as soon as possible;
• Minimize the size of where lawns are watered; and
• Harvest rainwater for outdoor watering.

"Water conservation measures will aid in the reduction of water use and safeguard water for essential needs, such as drinking water, fire protection services, habitat recovery and environmental needs, and sustained water supplies," according to the EEA.

Watershed partners for Medfield are the Charles River Watershed Association and Neponset River Watershed Association (NepRWA). While most of Medfield is located in the Charles River Watershed, the town water treatment facility and a heavily used town well behind Wheelock School is located in the Neponset River Watershed. Nearby Mine Brook is a significant waterway directly impacted by drought, human activity and local development.

In an e-mail sent on April 14, NepRWA urged watershed residents to minimize water use, noting, "At a minimum, that means recommended lawn watering one day a week or preferably less."

Much scientific evidence points to a connection between droughts and a decline in water quality with a direct correlation to impaired levels of dissolved oxygen which is needed to sustain aquatic life. A year-end 2020 NepRWA report provides additional insight on the health of Mine Brook in Medfield.