Water Restrictions

MANDATORY RESTRICTIONS ON NON-ESSENTIAL WATER USE

All non-essential outdoor water uses are restricted until further notice, in accordance with the City of Amesbury’s Water Management Act permit issued by the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection.


A description of non-essential water uses subject to mandatory restrictions as well as permitted uses is described below.

 Non-essential outdoor water uses that are subject to mandatory restrictions include: 

  • Outdoor watering is restricted to non-automatic systems
  • Washing of vehicles, except in a commercial car wash or as necessary for operator safety
  • Filling of swimming pools.

The following outdoor water uses are permitted during period of restrictions: 

  • Lawn irrigation via hand held hoses or sprinklers are permitted before 9:00AM and after 5:PM on a restricted Odd/Even schedule:
    • Even-numbered addresses: Water on even-numbered days

    • Odd-numbered addresses: Water on odd-numbered days

  • Irrigation for the establishment of new laws or plantings.
  • Irrigation of public parks and recreational fields by means of automatic sprinklers before 9:00AM and after 5:00PM.
  • Watering of lawns, gardens, flowers and ornamental plants using a handheld hose.

 Outdoor water uses NOT subject to mandatory restrictions are those required: 

  • For health or safety reasons
  • By regulation
  • For the production of food (vegetable gardens) and fiber
  • For the maintenance of livestock
  • To meet the core functions of a business (for example; irrigation by golf courses as necessary to maintain tees, greens, and limited fairway watering, or irrigation by plant nurseries as necessary to maintain stock).

For questions about the mandatory water restrictions, please email DPW.

No person shall violate any provision, restriction, requirement, or condition of any order approved or issued by the Department of Environmental Protection intended to bring about an end to the state of emergency.