SCITUATE - June 9, 2026 - The Scituate Select Board convened June 9 to address a rapidly developing environmental crisis, as the state declared a Level 2 Significant Drought for the region. The designation forces the Town of Scituate into immediate Tier 2 water restrictions, restricting non-essential water usage and halting the use of automatic irrigation town-wide.
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Late that afternoon, Massachusetts Secretary of Energy and Environmental Affairs Rebecca Tepper declared a Level 2 Significant Drought for southeastern Massachusetts, Cape Cod, and the Islands region. The declaration follows two years of below-average rainfall, declining streamflows, and dropping groundwater tables across the state. In May alone, the region received only one to three inches of rain, which tracks one and a half to three inches below monthly norms.
Scituate’s local water infrastructure is already reflecting the strain. The municipal reservoir has dropped to a level of plus 0.25 inches—a significant drop from last week’s plus one inch measurement. By comparison, the reservoir sat comfortably at plus seven inches on the exact same date last year.
Under Tier 2 water restrictions, the use of automatic irrigation systems is strictly prohibited. Outdoor watering is limited exclusively to handheld hoses, which are only permitted during the off-peak hours of 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. The Town emphasized that the initial municipal strategy will focus heavily on public education, though enhanced enforcement protocols are being deployed. Officials urged residents to capitalize on the town’s water rebate program, which offers $250 rebates for energy-efficient dishwashers and washing machines, and $150 for WaterSense-certified toilets, to help mitigate structural water demand.
“Under Level 2 severe drought conditions, watering is allowed only with handheld hoses. This means the town is now in Tier 2 water restrictions, with no use of automatic irrigation.” — Town Administrator, Jim Boudreau
