SouthCoast In A Drought Again

Once again, state officials are asking SouthCoast residents to conserve water.

On Wednesday, Environmental Affairs Secretary Bethany Card announced that the southeastern region of Massachusetts has entered a level one mild drought for the first time since 2021.

With abnormally low rainfall in May and the weather getting warmer, the SouthCoast has been left dry.

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Card reminds everyone “to be mindful of water usage as we advance further into the growing and outdoor recreational seasons.”

The drought declaration will stay in effect until precipitation rates return to normal.

Those in the SouthCoast region are encouraged to do the following:

• Minimize overall water use
• Keep outdoor watering to a minimum - once per week from between 5pm-9am
• Harvest rainwater for outdoor watering
• Plant only local drought resistant plants
• Fix indoor leaks as they contribute to 60% of the water that is wasted
• Minimize lawn sizes
• Develop a local drought management plan

State officials will meet again in June to discuss and monitor the situation.

The SouthCoast last saw a drought around this time last year.

In 2020, the SouthCoast region was also most affected by a statewide drought.

Before the past two years, one of the most severe droughts in Massachusetts started in July 2016 and lasted until February 2017.

— Jay Silva, WBSM News