Water Ban Now A Water Watch

The town's outdoor watering ban is over, but local water supplies aren't back to normal yet, as the town still has a water watch in effect, asking residents to limit outdoor water use.

The ban was put in place July 21, when a water main burst along Rte. 9.  The town has a five-tier system for assessing Wellesley's water supply. One is normal. Five is emergency, requiring a ban. At the moment, the town is at three, a water-watch. That calls for a voluntary halt to use of water outside the home.

Homeowners and property owners are asked to reduce lawn irrigation by 20 percent, water only once per week, avoid watering paved areas, and to water between 7 p.m. and 8 a.m.

Under a water use ban, people who use water outdoors would receive a warning on the first offense of outside water use, and after that,  a $50 fine for the first day,  then a $100 fine every day after that. Water-Sewer Superintendent Joe Duggan said the town has never had to resort to those penalties.