During summer months, the Town of Natick water system experiences high water demand due to non-essential outside water use for lawn and garden watering. The Town Administrator as authorized by the Natick Board of Selectmen, acting as the Natick Water Commissioners, has implemented a mandatory non-essential outdoor water use restriction, effective immediately until further notice. Mandatory non-essential outdoor water use restrictions limit daily demand on the water system to ensure adequate water is available to meet the public health and safety needs of the Town. This measure will assist in maintaining water levels in the storage tanks for fire protection and normal consumption use.

Compliance with this important water conservation measure will help avoid the need to implement more severe restrictions.

Watering Schedule

• Residents and businesses occupying a building with an odd number street address will limit non-essential water use including lawn and garden watering to Monday and Thursday from the hours of 5:00 pm on the select day until 9:00 am the following day.

• Residents and businesses occupying a building with an even number street address will limit non-essential water use including lawn and garden watering to Tuesday and Friday from the hours of 5:00 pm on the select day until 9:00 am the following day.

• No non-essential outdoor water use Wednesday, Saturday or Sunday.

Non-Essential Outdoor Water Use Recommendation

• Water lawns only when necessary. Please be aware that a healthy lawn only requires a maximum of one (1) inch of water per week.

• Maintain your lawn at a height of at least two (2) inches. This practice will protect roots and retain soil moisture.

• Water is lost to evaporation when watering during hot days

• Visit https://www.epa.gov/watersense/watering-tips for additional watering tips.

Essential Outdoor Water Use Definition

Essential Outdoor Water Use shall mean those uses that are required for the following:

• For health or safety reasons;

• By regulation;

• For the production of food 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 and greens, and limited fairway watering);

• Irrigation by Plant nurseries;

• Agricultural operations as necessary to maintain stock or establish new plantings;

• Pest management;

• Wash equipment to prevent damage and/or maintain performance;

• Irrigation of parks and recreation fields