Town of Cohasset Imposes Further Water Restrictions Resulting from Ongoing Drought Conditions

COHASSET — Town Manager Christopher Senior reports that the Town of Cohasset continues to experience abnormally dry conditions that are impacting the Town’s surface water supplies. As a result, a drought warning is currently in effect for all residents.

On Sept. 1 the Town had imposed a drought watch due to abnormally dry conditions. The current drought warning carries stricter mandatory outdoor water restrictions, which go into effect immediately until further notice. They include:

• No irrigation systems are to be used, under any circumstances.
• A handheld hose for ornamental plants and vegetable gardens is allowed daily, only between the hours of 5 p.m. and 9 a.m. Monday-Saturday. No watering is allowed on Sunday.

As part of the Town’s current Water Management Act Permit, Massachusetts DEP has approved a set of criteria for issuing this drought warning. They are:

• Precipitation (three cumulative months below 40% of normal)
• Stream flow (minimum target flows not maintained for 21 consecutive days)
• Storage (less than 300 days’ storage).

As of Tuesday, Oct. 6, the Town has not met the minimum target flow release for Bound Brook for 21 consecutive days, hence this drought warning going into effect.

Any person violating this restriction shall be liable to the Cohasset Water Department in

the amount of $50 for the first violation and $100 for each subsequent violation. Each

day of violation shall constitute a separate offense.

Anyone with questions or concerns can contact the Cohasset Water Department at 781-383-0057 or chillstrom@woodardcurran.com.

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