2024 Seasonal Water Use Restriction

Seasonal Water Use Restriction

Each year per the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection Water Management Act Permit, the Town of Sterling is required to restrict water use between May 1st and September 30th. These water use restrictions limit the use of water between the hours of 9AM and 5PM each day to “essential” outdoor uses. Examples of essential outdoor use includes irrigation to establish a new lawn or plantings, hand watering of lawns, gardens and flowers and cleaning building surfaces or pavement in preparation to apply surface treatments such as paint or driveway sealer.

Nonessential uses are allowed on an ODD/EVEN basis. This means if your house address is an even number, nonessential uses are allowed on even numbered days between 5PM and 9AM. If your house address is an odd number, nonessential uses are allowed on odd numbered days between 5PM and 9AM. All nonessential use is prohibited from 9AM to 5PM each day. Examples of “nonessential” uses include regular irrigation of lawns with sprinklers or automatic sprinkler systems, washing of vehicles and washing of buildings, parking lots or pavement for purposes other than applying surface treatments.

If you have any questions regarding the water use restriction please call The Department of Public Works at 978-422-6767. We thank you for your efforts to preserve this precious resource.