"With precipitation, streamflow, and groundwater below normal as the state enters the spring season, today @EEASecretary Theoharides declared drought conditions in most regions, including a Level 2 - Significant Drought in the Southeast Region."
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| MAEnergy Environment: Level 2 - Significant Drought in the Southeast Region (yes, includes Franklin, MA!) |
"Want to know how much water you use or see and pay your bill online?Sign up for WaterSmart today at: https://franklinma.watersmart.com/index.php/welcome"
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| Attention Franklin: Want to know how much water you use? |
"By the end of last summer, the dark waters of the Ipswich River no longer made it to the sea.
With the region gripped in historic drought, and millions of gallons of water siphoned away without restriction, the river ran dry. Millions of fish, insects, and other creatures died, and water actually flowed backward in some tributaries, sucked up by municipal wells.
With climate change expected to increase the frequency of droughts, state officials are preparing sweeping new restrictions to prevent future shortages in what would be among the most significant changes to water management in Massachusetts in decades and result in many municipalities, big businesses, and other major water users no longer being exempt from water restrictions."
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| new policy that may increase water restrictions |
State officials ask the public to be mindful of the amount of water they are using, residents are asked to reduce indoor water use, address leaks ASAP, and for larger buildings and businesses to conduct water audits to identify areas of leaks and potential water conservation.
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| MEMA: Be mindful of the water use |
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| Legal Notice: Bylaw Amendment 21-866, Chapter 153, Stormwater Management Articles I, II, and III |
"For years, the debate has raged on: which is better, bottled water, or tap?
Despite its ever-growing popularity in the US, bottled water is atrocious for the environment. To quote Harvard University’s Office for Sustainability, “The entire life cycle of bottled water uses fossil fuels, contributes to global warming, and causes pollution.”
Although water bottles are recyclable, Americans throw away about 80% of the bottles they use – and, by some estimates, Americans use 1,500 plastic bottles of water every second. Plastic bottles contribute immensely to global environmental crises, in part due to the fact that they disintegrate into microplastics, the presence of which are so ubiquitous researchers recently discovered them in the placentas of unborn babies. Bottled water takes 2,000 times the energy to produce and ship than its tap equivalent. The extraction and manufacturing processes used by bottled water corporations can also have negative environmental and economic effects, and amount to the privatization and commodification of a limited and invaluable resource to which all should have a universal right."
Drought Conditions Continue to Improve Across the Commonwealth
Level 1 – Mild Drought Declared in All Regions of Massachusetts
BOSTON — Following increased amounts of rainfall through the month of November, Energy and Environmental Affairs (EEA) Secretary Kathleen Theoharides today declared that drought conditions continue to improve or hold steady across the Commonwealth, with all seven regions of the state currently in a Level 1-Mild Drought. In the Southeast and Cape Cod Regions, conditions moved to a Level 1-Mild Drought after experiencing Level 2-Significant Drought conditions last month. In the Western, Connecticut River Valley, Central, Northeastern, and Islands regions, conditions remained at a Level 1-Mild Drought, unchanged from last month’s declaration. Additionally, conditions improved in the Nashua River basin, which is now experiencing Level 1-Mild Drought conditions in line with the Central Region. A Level 1-Mild Drought, as outlined in the Massachusetts Drought Management Plan, warrants detailed monitoring of drought conditions, close coordination among state and federal agencies, and technical outreach and assistance for the affected municipalities.
“As drought conditions continue to improve or remain steady across the Commonwealth, it is important that residents continue to conserve water as state agencies and municipalities continue to respond to the impacts of this prolonged drought,” said Energy and Environmental Affairs Secretary Kathleen Theoharides. “Limiting indoor water use is a great way for residents to help their communities minimize the strain on local water resources as we work our way back to normal conditions.”
The declaration was informed by recommendations and discussions from the December 7, 2020 meeting of the Drought Management Task Force (DMTF), composed of state and federal officials and other entities, and will remain in effect until water levels return to normal in the affected regions.
The month of November brought increased rain in most regions of the state, with exceptions in the Cape and parts of Western Massachusetts. Rainfall totals ranged from 2 to 5 inches across most of the Commonwealth, with lower totals on the Cape and the northern area of the Connecticut River Valley. Heavy downpours on the last day of November and into December are expected to trickle through the hydrological system and reflect on the other drought indices in the coming weeks.
The state continues to intensely monitor and assess the drought situation, and any associated environmental, municipal and agricultural impacts. Task Force officials also noted that streamflow improved across the state, with a normal range observed across all regions. Groundwater levels continued to be mixed across the state with improvement in the Western and Central regions. However, Eastern Massachusetts continues to experience below normal levels of groundwater. In the Cape Cod region, groundwater levels remain above normal, but continue to decline.
For Region in Level 1 - Mild Drought
Residents and Businesses:
Minimize overall water use;
Communities:
Establish a year-round water conservation program that includes public education and communication;
Provide timely information to local residents and businesses;
Check emergency inter-connections for water supply; and
Develop a local drought management plan.
The Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection (MassDEP) continues to provide technical assistance to communities on managing systems, including assistance on use of emergency connections and water supplies, as well as assisting towns on how to request a declaration of drought emergency.
“With water demand down and conditions improving, now is the time when we should all plan to use water more efficiently moving forward,” said MassDEP Commissioner Martin Suuberg. “That includes the decisions that residents and businesses make as they plan their landscaping choices for next year, along with the considerations people make in purchasing water-using appliances. Efficient water use is appropriate all the time and not just during periods of drought.”
The Massachusetts Water Resources Authority (MWRA) water supply system is not currently experiencing drought conditions, as defined within its individual plan.
The declaration of a Level 1 – Mild Drought requires the Drought Management Task Force to continue to meet on a regular basis to more closely assess conditions across the state, accelerate outreach efforts on water conservation, coordinate dissemination of information to the public, and help state, federal and local agencies prepare any responses that may be needed in the future.
Last year, EEA completed a two-year process and updated the Massachusetts Drought Management Plan to better assess drought conditions across the state and maximize the state’s ability to prepare for and respond to a drought. The Plan also provides guidance to communities on drought preparedness and outlines response actions that can be taken at the local level.
For further information on water conservation and what residents and communities can do, visit the Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs
"Due to five months of below normal rainfall, Energy and Environmental Affairs (EEA) Secretary Kathleen Theoharides today declared a Level 3 – Critical Drought in the Southeast Region of the Commonwealth. The other six regions across the state — the Western, Connecticut River Valley, Central, Northeast, Cape Cod, and Islands regions— remain at a Level 2 – Significant Drought, unchanged from last month’s declaration. Responding to increasingly severe drought conditions in some of the Commonwealth’s river basins, Secretary Theoharides also declared a Level 3 – Critical Drought in the Charles River and Millers River watersheds."
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| Town of Franklin, MA: status moves to Level 3- Critical Drought |
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| www.franklinma.watersmart.com |
"Did you catch our August issue of the River Current? It's packed with the latest on I-90, cyanobacteria bloom news, a farewell to summer interns, and more! "
River Current = https://t.co/ClVmKXX8RV
Charles River tweet with link = https://t.co/bMCuBgeFOh
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| Charles River Watershed Association |
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| Conservation Commission - Public Hearing - Aug 27 |
With above normal temperatures throughout July and early August and more than three months of below normal rainfall, @EEASecretary today declared a Level 2 - Significant Drought in all regions across the Commonwealth.
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| Level 2 - Significant Drought declared for MA |
From the Milford Daily News, articles of interest for Franklin:
"The Trump Administration wants to change the definition of a showerhead to let more water flow, addressing a pet peeve of the president who complains he isn’t getting wet enough.
Publicly talking about the need to keep his hair “perfect,” President Donald Trump has made increasing water flow and dialing back long held appliance conservation standards — from light bulbs to toilets to dishwashers — a personal issue.
But consumer and conservation groups said the Department of Energy’s proposed loosening of a 28-year-old energy law that includes appliance standards is silly, unnecessary and wasteful, especially as the West bakes through a historic two-decade-long megadrought.
Since 1992, federal law has dictated that new showerheads shouldn’t pour more than 2.5 gallons of water per minute (9.5 liters). As newer shower fixtures came out with multiple nozzles, the Obama administration defined the showerhead restrictions to apply to what comes out in total. So if there are four nozzles, no more than 2.5 gallons total should come out between all four."
Continue reading the article online (subscription may be required) https://www.milforddailynews.com/zz/news/20200812/trump-administration-eases-showerhead-rules?rssfeed=true
Citizens are welcome to express their views for up to five minutes on a matter that is not on the agenda. The Council will not engage in a dialogue or comment on a matter raised during Citizen Comments. The Town Council will give remarks appropriate consideration and may ask the Town Administrator to review the matter.
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| Franklin, MA: Town Council - Agenda - July 29, 2020 |
"Coming next week! Stay tuned to learn how to participate and enter to win great prizes!!!! @waterwords #stormwater #learn #educate #fun #cleanerwater #thinkbluefranklin"
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| #ThinkBlueFranklin - a campaign for stormwater awareness - begins week of July 20 |
"The new Water Treatment Plant and reconstruction of two wells to provide cleaner and better water to residents and businesses is coming along great! The steel shell is up. Project is currently on time and on budget! Thanks Franklin DPW and the entire staff for gettin’ it done!"
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| New water treatment plant for Wells 3 & 6 under construction |
Join in for a brief presentation on the current drought conditions.
Residents can ask questions about water usage, development, water resources, etc...
Zoom link https://us02web.zoom.us/j/84275794979 or Call-In Phone Number: 1-929-205-6099, enter Meeting ID 84275794979, press “#”
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| Virtual Coffee with Brutus - June 30 - Ask questions about water usage, resources, etc. |
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| https://droughtmonitor.unl.edu/ |
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| FM #310 Town Council Meeting - 6/24/20 (audio) |
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| "Coffee with the DPW Director" - June 30 |
