Danvers Eases Extreme Water Restrictions Amid Stormy Spring

DANVERS, MA — If a stormy spring punctuated with rainy Saturdays every week for the past three months is good for anything, it may be that it will make it easier to wash their cars and water their lawns for at least the next few weeks.

The town said on Thursday that it was reducing the outdoor water restrictions from a Level 5 — which prohibited nearly all outdoor water use — to Level 2, effective immediately.

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The town said this change is made possible due to the return of Middleton Pond to normal levels, healthy flow rates in the Ipswich River, and anticipated precipitation in the coming days.

Under Level 2 restrictions, outdoor watering is permitted every day between 7 p.m. and 8 a.m. Watering outside of these hours is not allowed. This includes the use of sprinklers, irrigation

systems, and hand-held hoses.

This reduction aligns with the town's Water Withdrawal Permit issued by the state, which requires
Danvers to adjust water restrictions based on current reservoir and river flow conditions. Recent
measurements confirm that water supplies have improved enough to support this easing of
restrictions while continuing to promote responsible water use.

"We thank our residents for their cooperation and conservation efforts during the more severe drought conditions," said Rob Dever, Interim Director of Public Works. "While we're pleased to lift some restrictions, we urge everyone to continue using water wisely to maintain supply stability."

(Scott Souza is a Patch field editor covering Beverly, Danvers, Marblehead, Peabody, Salem and Swampscott. He can be reached at Scott.Souza@Patch.com. X/Twitter: @Scott_Souza.)