Town of Easton Informs Residents of Phase III Water Restrictions Now in Place

EASTON — Fire Chief and Emergency Management Director Kevin Partridge and Water Division Operations Manager Richard Tierney, Jr. would like to inform residents that Phase III water restrictions are now in place in the Town of Easton until further notice.

Easton is currently experiencing abnormally dry conditions, and the Easton Water Division is required to implement Phase III restrictions when flow in the Taunton River drops below 47 cubic feet per second.

As part of the restrictions, even numbered properties will be restricted to watering by sprinklers or irrigation systems on Mondays from 5 to 8 a.m., and even numbered properties will be restricted to watering by sprinklers or irrigation systems on Tuesdays from 5 to 8 a.m.

Lawn watering by sprinklers or irrigation systems will not be allowed Wednesday through Sunday. Handheld hoses can be used at any time.

To view a detailed graph that shows which days lawn watering is allowed under current restrictions, click here.

Penalties for not complying with this regulation are as follows: Written warning for the first violation; $50 for the second violation; $100 for subsequent violations.

These restrictions will remain in place until flow in the Taunton River exceeds 47 cubic feet per second for seven consecutive days, at which time the Town will return to Phase II water restrictions — which would allow even numbered addresses to water Mondays and Thursdays from 5-8 a.m. and 6-9 p.m., and  odd numbered addresses to water Tuesday and Fridays from 5-8 a.m. and 6-9 p.m.

To report violations, contact the Easton Water Division at 508-230-0850.

Visit the Easton Water Division webpage here for more information.

Increased Fire Risk

Drought conditions result in dry grass, shrubs and forest areas, as well as dry soil conditions, increasing the wildland fire risk across the state. Fires that burn among these conditions can take multiple days to extinguish and exhaust local resources.

Therefore, state fire officials also remind the public to be careful with the disposal of combustible materials.

For more information on fire prevention tips as it relates to drought conditions, visit the Massachusetts Emergency Management Agency (MEMA) website here.

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