Amid Drought, Communities Continue Restricting Water Use

Drought-like conditions across New England are forcing many communities to bring water use to a drip.

You can add Pepperell, Massachusetts, to that growing list with mandatory water bans.

Massachusetts Water Restriction Map 080816
MassDEP

"We started off with a nice green lawn, and now we got the bald spot," said Charlene Dillingham.

Like many frustrated home owners, Dillingham is being forced to shut off the sprinklers, preventing needless water use.

"It's only for our public water supply customers," Ken Kalinowski said.

Kalinowski leads Pepperell's public works department and hopes people with private wells will also comply.

"We're all drinking from the same cup of water," he said. "If we're starting to get concerned about it, they should be getting concerned about it."

Officials also say under normal conditions, in the Nissitissit River, the water level is supposed to be at least a foot higher. Instead, it's now a shallow stream.

"Fish and wildlife that depend on this area in shallow pools, they can be threatened if the drought continues," Kalinowski said.

Anyone violating this mandatory water ban in Pepperell will first be warned. If it's ignored, then the fines could start coming down.

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