Peabody Water Ban Imposes Fines For Lawn Watering, Car Washing

PEABODY, MA — Peabody residents can risk fines for watering their lawns and washing their cars under a Phase 3 water restriction imposed amid the ongoing "critical" drought.

The Phase 3 level includes a $100 fine per offense.

Outdoor water use is restricted to watering plants and flowers from a pail or water can only.

The restriction comes amid drought conditions that actually worsened over the past week despite some rain on Monday and Tuesday, which included heavy downpours in the southeast part of the state.

The core population areas of the state, including the North Shore, South Shore, Boston area, Worcester area and Springfield area all remained in"critical" drought.

All outdoor open flame fires —including campfires and charcoal cookouts — were banned across Massachusetts state parks on Tuesday as crews battled 38 fires totaling 188 acres statewide over the past seven days amid the extreme drought conditions.

It is the first such statewide ban since 2016. There is an exception for small portable propane grills at campgrounds and recreation areas where grilling is permitted.

(Scott Souza is a Patch field editor covering Beverly, Danvers, Marblehead, Peabody, Salem and Swampscott. He can be reached at Scott.Souza@Patch.com. Twitter: @Scott_Souza.)