Town Issues Warnings Amid Continuing Water Ban

A full outdoor watering ban continues in the town of Burlington, nearly a month after the state Department of Environmental Protection declared a water emergency.

While the water level at Mill Pond remains high, said Department of Public Works (DPW) Operations Manager Anthony DeSimone, the dry, hot weather combined with a water usage increase of nearly 250% have lowered the water level in the town's storage tanks. This, despite restrictions already in place that limited outdoor watering to every other day and only between the hours of 5:00 PM and 9:00 AM.

Mill Pond is the town's primary source of water and can treat about 2.5 million gallons each day (MGD), enough to meet the town's wintertime demand of about 2.2 MGD. Production has slowed a bit as the water filtration media has aged, and the department is preparing to replace the filters that were first taken online in 2023. These media have outlived their expected 18-month lifespan by nearly a year.

The town's secondary water source is its connection with the Massachusetts Water Resource Authority (MWRA) via Adams Street in Lexington, which has a 3 MGD capacity. That connection has been open throughout the summer, but a water demand spike of 5.3 MGD – most of which can be attributed to outdoor watering – has put a strain on the combined capacity of the two sources.

In July, the town opened a separate emergency MWRA connection, which is what precipitated the full outdoor watering ban.

Still, sprinklers can be seen running at some residences and businesses throughout town. Some residents are frustrated to see the disregard for the ban; those disregarding it say they pay for the water and have a right to use it. Many point to businesses with green grass and ask why they are still watering when residents aren't allowed.

The town's website outlines the process of issuing penalties for properties that disregard the ban. The first offense garners a warning, the second a $50 fine, and the third and beyond a fine of $100. To date, according to the DPW, 260 warnings have been issued and fines may be forthcoming. But, the cost of a fine – or even multiple over the season – may not deter property owners, many of whom spent far more than that to establish their grass.

Residents who notice water restriction violations can submit photos and addresses to the DPW for enforcement action.

The restriction on outdoor watering includes irrigation and hand-watering of lawns but allows exceptions for vegetable gardens, new lawns for newly-built homes, and health & safety issues. Read more on the Town of Burlington website.