MA Irrigation FAQs

These water restrictions have been established pursuant to Aquarion’s Rules and Regulations, as approved by the Massachusetts Department of Public Utilities:

• Water restrictions are in effect from May 1 thru October 15.
• The restrictions apply only to irrigation systems and hose-end sprinklers.
• Customers with odd number street addresses may only water on odd-numbered days, and those with even number street addresses may only water on even-numbered days.
• On these assigned days, customers are allowed to water before 8 a.m. and after 5 p.m., when evaporation losses will be minimized and more water goes to the plants’ roots.

Historically, when the demand for water increased in a community, the water industry considered only one solution: construct a new water supply (a well, a reservoir, or an interconnection with another community). Forward-thinking water utilities and community leaders have now come to recognize that prudent use of these precious resources is also part of the solution; in part, because spending money on new water supplies will result in higher water rates and conservation is simply better for the environment.

With this new approach, Aquarion, like many other environmentally conscious utilities, has begun implementing annual irrigation restrictions in some of the communities it serves in Connecticut and Massachusetts, including the community of Millbury.

Through the Water Management Act, MassDEP regulates the amount of water that all water suppliers in Massachusetts can withdraw from the environment. Like all other water suppliers, Aquarion has an annual limit that it can withdraw from its sources. In recent years, Aquarion’s water withdrawals have been safely below this limit. Our customers’ commitment to these irrigation restrictions will help ensure that this positive trend continues.