Cities and towns across the state are advising people to conserve water.
Currently, almost the entire state of Massachusetts is in significant or critical drought, with the Northeast and Mid-Centre regions elevated to Level 3 of Critical Drought by the Secretary of Energy and Environmental Affairs last week.
The City of Cambridge is among those in critical drought status, meaning all non-essential outdoor water use is banned.
The state also issued recommendations for cities like Cambridge to follow, including:
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Save time in the shower
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Make sure dishwashers and washing machines are full before using them
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Repair leaky taps and toilets
Boston 25 News spoke with businesses in and beyond Cambridge about their water conservation efforts.
According to David Barlam, owner of Mass Ave Diner, he was unaware of the critical drought status the city was in, but they always try to be efficient with water use.
The same goes for nearby businesses such as Mahoney’s Garden Center in Brighton. Although aware of the dry conditions, they have a habit of skimping on water even when Massachusetts is not in drought.
“I think because we’re in the growing business, people in general are just a little bit more aware… and don’t leave the water running,” explains Valerie Donohue, manager of annuals and perennials at Mahoney’s.
She said they have also been lucky as most of their plants are dormant at this time of year so the few remaining plants do not need as much water as they would during the spring or summer season.
According to Mark Gallagher, director of the Cambridge Water Department, most of the city’s irrigation systems are also closed at this time of year.
“We have been preaching water conservation here in Cambridge for decades,” Gallagher said. “Those efforts have paid off, even as our population continues to grow.”
Gallagher explained that if they don’t get enough rain in the next month, they will likely have to supplement their water supply with the Massachusetts Resource Water Authority (MRWA) connection.
This is a development story. Check back for updates as more information becomes available.
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