Severe Drought Means Foxborough Lawns Get Less Water: What To Know

FOXBOROUGH, MA — The ongoing drought in Massachusetts is causing towns and cities to alter their water plans, and that includes Foxborough.

No, there isn't a ban on watering your lawn, but the town has issued a schedule of when residents are allowed to use automatic lawn sprinklers, and capped it at twice a week.

Odd-numbered homes can use those sprinklers on Monday and Thursday between 6 and 9 p.m., while even numbered homes can do so on Tuesday and Friday between the same time period. Watering of gardens, flowers and vegetables is still allowed everyday before 9 a.m. and after 5 p.m., however.

This news comes as Energy and Environmental Affairs (EEA) Secretary Beth Card declared the Connecticut River Valley and Southeast Regions will join the Northeast and Central Regions as a Level 3-Critical Drought.

"With the majority of the state now experiencing a Level-3-Critical Drought, it is incredibly important that we all practice water conservation and adhere to local requirements and recommendations in order avoid over stressing our water resources," said Card. "Efforts to minimize water usage now will help our water systems to rebound more quickly, and ensure that essential public health, safety and environmental needs continue to be met."

The month of July 2022 experienced minimal precipitation and high temperatures throughout the state. Rainfall was the lowest across eastern Massachusetts, particularly within Cape Cod and Martha’s Vineyard reporting less than an inch of rain, less than 50% of normal precipitation. Within eastern Massachusetts, rainfall totals ranked within the top 15 driest Julys on record with Boston and the Blue Hills experiencing the 4th driest.

At this level of drought status, residents are urged to minimize overall water use, and stop all non-essential outdoor watering.