{"id":9131,"date":"2026-11-12T10:58:46","date_gmt":"2026-11-12T15:58:46","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/sudbury.ma.us\/conservationcommission\/?p=9131"},"modified":"2026-11-12T10:58:46","modified_gmt":"2026-11-12T15:58:46","slug":"current-drought-status-9","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/sudbury.ma.us\/conservationcommission\/2026\/11\/12\/current-drought-status-9\/","title":{"rendered":"Current Drought Status"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<h2 id=\"current-drought-status\" class=\"ma__comp-heading    \">Current Drought Status<\/h2>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/sudbury.ma.us\/conservationcommission\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/273\/2026\/11\/2026-10drought_status11-09-26.jpg?version=a682f601bac72116cf405309902723b0\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-9132\" src=\"https:\/\/sudbury.ma.us\/conservationcommission\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/273\/2026\/11\/2026-10drought_status11-09-26.jpg?version=a682f601bac72116cf405309902723b0\" alt=\"\" width=\"1240\" height=\"958\" srcset=\"https:\/\/sudbury.ma.us\/conservationcommission\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/273\/2026\/11\/2026-10drought_status11-09-26.jpg 1240w, https:\/\/sudbury.ma.us\/conservationcommission\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/273\/2026\/11\/2026-10drought_status11-09-26-300x232.jpg 300w, https:\/\/sudbury.ma.us\/conservationcommission\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/273\/2026\/11\/2026-10drought_status11-09-26-1024x791.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/sudbury.ma.us\/conservationcommission\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/273\/2026\/11\/2026-10drought_status11-09-26-768x593.jpg 768w, https:\/\/sudbury.ma.us\/conservationcommission\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/273\/2026\/11\/2026-10drought_status11-09-26-388x300.jpg 388w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1240px) 100vw, 1240px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p><em>*The drought levels shown in the map above are in effect until the next drought declaration<\/em><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>November 9, 2026:<\/p>\n<p>Today, Energy and Environmental Affairs (EEA) Secretary Rebecca Tepper declared updated drought conditions across Massachusetts. The Southeast Region has improved from a Level 1 \u2013 Mild Drought to Normal Conditions, while the Northeast Region and Nantucket County have moved from a Level 2 \u2013 Significant Drought to a Level 1 \u2013 Mild Drought. All other regions remain in Normal Conditions.<\/p>\n<p>Current drought conditions are:&nbsp;<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Level 2 \u2013 Significant Drought:&nbsp;<\/strong>Cape Cod Region&nbsp;<\/li>\n<li><strong>Level 1 \u2013 Mild Drought:&nbsp;<\/strong>Northeast Region, Nantucket County<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>During October, rainfall totals of around 2 inches were common across Massachusetts, although lower totals were observed in portions of Cape Cod and the Islands as well as northwest Massachusetts. This corresponds to rainfall departures between 2 to 3 inches below normal. Cape Cod remains at a Level 2 drought due to low groundwater levels, which typically take longer to recover than in other parts of the state because of the region\u2019s unique hydrogeology.<\/p>\n<p>State agencies will continue to closely&nbsp;monitor&nbsp;and assess conditions across the state, coordinate any needed dissemination of information to the public, and help federal, state, and local agencies prepare&nbsp;additional&nbsp;responses that may be needed in the future.&nbsp;The DMTF will&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.mass.gov\/info-details\/drought-management-task-force-meetings\">meet<\/a>&nbsp;again on&nbsp;December 7 at 1 PM.&nbsp;For further information on water conservation and what residents can do,&nbsp;visit the EEA\u2019s&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.mass.gov\/guides\/drought-management-in-massachusetts\">drought<\/a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.mass.gov\/conservemawater\">water conservation<\/a>&nbsp;pages.&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>Below are recommendations for communities and individuals living and working within Level 1 \u2013 Mild Drought&nbsp;and Level 2 \u2013 Significant Drought&nbsp;Regions&nbsp;including those&nbsp;utilizing&nbsp;a private well. Residents and businesses are strongly urged to check with their local water systems in case more stringent water restrictions are in place. Many systems may have other more severe local conditions and constraints on water supply.<\/p>\n<h3 id=\"for-regions-in-level-2-significant-drought\">For Regions in Level 2 \u2013 <strong>Significant <\/strong>Drought<\/h3>\n<h4 id=\"residents-and-businesses\">Residents and Businesses:<\/h4>\n<ul>\n<li>Minimize overall water use;&nbsp;<\/li>\n<li>Follow local water use restrictions;&nbsp;<\/li>\n<li>Fix indoor leaks, such as from toilets, faucets, and showers, which result in more than 60 percent of indoor use; and,<\/li>\n<li>For larger buildings and businesses, conduct water audits to&nbsp;identify&nbsp;areas of leaks and potential water conservation opportunities.&nbsp;<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h4 id=\"immediate-steps-for-communities-municipalities\">Immediate Steps for <strong>Communities\/Municipalities<\/strong>:<\/h4>\n<ul>\n<li>Limit or prohibit washing of hard surfaces (sidewalks, patios, driveways, siding), personal vehicle or boat washing; and,&nbsp;<\/li>\n<li>Establish water-use reduction targets for all water users,&nbsp;identify&nbsp;top water&nbsp;users&nbsp;and conduct targeted outreach to help curb their use.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h4 id=\"short-and-medium-term-steps-for-communities-municipalities\">Short- and Medium-Term Steps for <strong>Communities\/Municipalities<\/strong>:<\/h4>\n<ul>\n<li>Establish a year-round water conservation program that includes public education and communication, taking advantage of the state\u2019s <a href=\"https:\/\/www.mass.gov\/info-details\/water-resources-toolkit-library-of-outreach-materials\">library of outreach materials<\/a>;&nbsp;<\/li>\n<li>Provide&nbsp;timely&nbsp;information to&nbsp;local residents&nbsp;and businesses;&nbsp;<\/li>\n<li>Implement or&nbsp;establish&nbsp;drought surcharge or seasonal water rates;&nbsp;<\/li>\n<li>Check emergency inter-connections for water supply; and,&nbsp;<\/li>\n<li>Develop or refine a local drought management plan using guidance outlined in the state Drought Management <a href=\"https:\/\/www.mass.gov\/doc\/massachusetts-drought-management-plan\/download\">Plan<\/a>.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h3 id=\"for-regions-in-level-1-mild-drought\">For Regions in Level 1 \u2013 <strong>Mild <\/strong>Drought&nbsp;<\/h3>\n<h4 id=\"residents-and-businesses-1\">Residents and Businesses:<\/h4>\n<ul>\n<li>Minimize overall water use;<\/li>\n<li>For larger buildings and businesses, conduct water audits to identify areas of leaks and potential water conservation opportunities;<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h4 id=\"communities-municipalities\">Communities\/Municipalities:<\/h4>\n<ul>\n<li>Establish a year-round water conservation program that includes public education and communication, taking advantage of the state\u2019s <a href=\"https:\/\/www.mass.gov\/info-details\/water-resources-toolkit-library-of-outreach-materials\">library of outreach materials<\/a>;&nbsp;<\/li>\n<li>Provide timely drought and water conservation information to residents and businesses;<\/li>\n<li>Check emergency inter-connections for water supply; and,<\/li>\n<li>Develop a local Drought Management <a href=\"https:\/\/www.mass.gov\/doc\/massachusetts-drought-management-plan\/download\">Plan<\/a>.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Current Drought Status *The drought levels shown in the map above are in effect until the next drought declaration &nbsp; November 9, 2026: Today, Energy and Environmental Affairs (EEA) Secretary Rebecca Tepper declared updated &hellip; <a href=\"https:\/\/sudbury.ma.us\/conservationcommission\/2026\/11\/12\/current-drought-status-9\/\" aria-label=\"Read full article about Current Drought Status\">Read full article<span class=\"meta-nav\">&rarr;<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":180,"featured_media":9132,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"inline_featured_image":false},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/sudbury.ma.us\/conservationcommission\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/9131"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/sudbury.ma.us\/conservationcommission\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/sudbury.ma.us\/conservationcommission\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sudbury.ma.us\/conservationcommission\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/180"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sudbury.ma.us\/conservationcommission\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=9131"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/sudbury.ma.us\/conservationcommission\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/9131\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":9133,"href":"https:\/\/sudbury.ma.us\/conservationcommission\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/9131\/revisions\/9133"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sudbury.ma.us\/conservationcommission\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/9132"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/sudbury.ma.us\/conservationcommission\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=9131"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sudbury.ma.us\/conservationcommission\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=9131"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sudbury.ma.us\/conservationcommission\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=9131"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}