GREENFIELD — With much of the state facing significant drought conditions, the city is being placed under mandatory water conservation measures, Mayor Ginny Desorgher announced Thursday.
Desorgher declared a State of Water Supply Conservation, prohibiting the use of sprinklers and mandating that residents limit their outdoor watering to hand-held hoses or watering cans used after 5 p.m. and before 9 a.m. to reduce evaporation. The conditions also prohibit washing hard surfaces such as sidewalks, patios, driveways and personal vehicles, and filling or “topping off” swimming pools.
“We all need to do our part by taking these commonsense steps to safeguard Greenfield’s water supply and ensure we have enough water for firefighting and other essential needs,” Desorgher said in a statement.
Under Chapter 415 of Greenfield Municipal Code, violations of water use restrictions carry a $50 fine for the first offense and a $100 fine for each subsequent offense.
The restrictions were instituted following the state Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs’ declaration of “significant drought” in the Connecticut River Valley. The Western, Central and Northeast regions, as well as Nantucket and Cape Cod, are also in the “significant drought” category. Meanwhile, the Southeast Region is experiencing a “mild drought” and Dukes County is under normal conditions.
According to the Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs, the spring and early summer months brought much-needed rainfall, which helped bring many regions out of drought. Still, “below-normal rainfall over the last three months” moved these regions back into a significant drought, with much of the state experiencing just 40% to 80% of normal rainfall during that period. The state agency reported that August was notably dry — 1 to 2 inches or more below normal rainfall levels — while some areas of central Massachusetts experienced normal precipitation.
“Warmer summers mean dryer environmental conditions in our parks, forests and communities. As several regions experience significant drought conditions, we must be mindful of these additional factors,” Energy and Environmental Affairs Secretary Rebecca Tepper said in a statement. “We urge the public to remain vigilant during this time and adhere to local water restrictions and practice water conservation. We can all do our part to prevent brush and forest fires by exercising caution with outdoor activities like campfires, and the safe disposal of smoking materials.”
The lack of precipitation and higher temperatures have increased the risk for outdoor fires, according to the Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs. Additionally, streamflow has declined significantly in Massachusetts, resulting in dry streambeds, the ponding of rivers, and exposed banks along ponds and lakes. Habitats, vegetation and fish migration out to sea have been impacted as a result of drought conditions.