Politics & Government
The Drought Is Over In Massachusetts, But You Should Still Conserve Water
The rain in March that many of you complained about helped the Bay State pull out of the drought level it sat in for quite some time.
MASSACHUSETTS—While you may have complained about the rainy days that hit the Bay State throughout March and April, which continue through May, you can be thankful that the precipitation pulled Massachusetts back to "normal drought levels."
Energy and Environmental Affairs (EEA) Secretary Matthew Beaton on Thursday declared the following drought levels throughout the Commonwealth: normal condition levels for the Connecticut River Valley, central, northeast, southeast regions as well as the Cape and Islands; down from a Drought Advisory in the month of April, and unchanged for the western region. The declarations were the result of a recommendation issued from a recent meeting of the Drought Management Task Force, comprised of state and federal officials, and other entities.
“With the state experiencing above average precipitation for the past few months, and the continuation of best water conservation practices administered by the public, the Commonwealth’s water systems have finally reached normal conditions after two plus years of running a deficit,” said Beaton in a statement. “Now that the outdoor watering season has begun, we must all remain diligent in our conservation practices to ensure that when prolonged dry conditions occur in the future, the state’s reservoirs, groundwater, soil moisture and streamflow systems aren’t further stressed, allowing them to recover quickly.”
As the state heads into planting season, officials remind residents to "think carefully about what they plant, encourage good landscape practices and recommend watering plants only early in the morning or late in the evening." In general, the public should be mindful of the amount of water they are using.
“The Quabbin Reservoir remains slightly below normal, but the level continues to rise,” said Massachusetts Water Resources Authority (MWRA) Executive Director Fred Laskey in a statement. “It is still important for our customers to conserve water, particularly as the weather warms up and outdoor usage starts to increase.”
