Westborough Bans All Outdoor Water Use Due To Drought

WESTBOROUGH, MA — Westborough on Friday increased a town-wide water ban to cover all outdoor watering, including filling pools, washing cars and watering lawns and gardens.

Westborough on Tuesday responded to a region-wide drought by prohibiting outdoor watering to specific hours. But Friday's new restrictions ban outdoor use at all times, even during nighttime hours.

The restrictions come after state environmental officials Thursday declared a level 3 "critical" drought in Westborough and all of Worcester County. That's an upgrade from last week, when the county was only in a "significant" drought.

"As the summer continues and low precipitation couples with high temperatures, it is incredibly important that outdoor watering be limited, coupled with the planting of drought tolerant plants to further reduce the strain on local water systems," the state Drought Management Task Force said in a Thursday update.

The region is in the midst of a long heat wave with temperatures expected to rise through the end of the weekend. There is no rain in the forecast until very early Monday morning, according to the National Weather Service.