The Wellesley Department of Public Works (DPW) is again requiring residents to adhere to a mandatory one-day per week outdoor watering schedule for all non-essential watering.
Due to a Level 1 mild drought declared in our region, these restrictions are mandatory for all homes and businesses.
The one-day per week schedule is based on street address numbers, and non-essential watering is banned between the hours of 9:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. These restrictions are effective immediately and comply with state regulations.
Non-essential outdoor water use IS ALLOWED according to the following schedule:
- Odd numbered addresses are restricted to Tuesdays
- Even numbered addresses are restricted to Fridays
- Non-essential outdoor use of water on all other days is prohibited
Watering hours are restricted to before 9:00 a.m. and after 5:00 p.m. All other outdoor watering is prohibited between 9 and 5 to help avoid loss of water through evaporation.
Non-essential water uses include:
- Irrigating lawns via sprinklers or automatic irrigation systems
- Washing vehicles, except in a commercial car wash or as necessary for operator safety
- Washing exterior building surfaces, parking lots, driveways or sidewalks, except as necessary to apply surface treatments such as paint, preservatives, stucco, pavement, or concrete
Essential uses of water are excepted from these restrictions and include:
- For health and safety reasons
- Irrigation to establish a new lawn and new plantings between the months of May and September
- Agricultural operations to maintain livestock and crops and vegetable gardens
- Irrigating lawns, gardens, flowers and ornamental plants by means of a hand-held hose
- To meet the core functions to the commercial operations of a business
- Irrigating public trees and parks, schools, and recreational fields
- Hydrant flushing to maintain water systems and improve water quality
More information can be found on the DPW Watering Restrictions webpage.