District Headquarters
50 Elm St., Dedham, MA 02026
During Office Hours:
781-329-7090
After Hours Emergency:
781-326-1250
50 Elm St., Dedham, MA 02026
781-329-7090
781-326-1250
The Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection (MassDEP), Water Management Act Program, regulates the District to withdraw water from our groundwater wells by registration statements. In January 2023, MassDEP amended its Water Management Regulations by requiring all public water suppliers with registration statements to comply with prescribed water restriction levels by April 2025. Levels 1-3, listed below, are specifically prescribed by the Commonwealth, 310 CMR 36.07 (2)(c).
Since April 2025, the District has enforced drought restriction levels as declared by the Massachusetts Secretary of Energy and Environmental Affairs (EEA)/Drought Management Task Force. Previously, the District implemented its own water restriction levels
Dedham and Westwood are in the Southeast Region of the Commonwealth, which means all declarations made by the EEA for our region must be adhered to.
Click on the button above to view the District’s Registration Statements that outline mandatory water restrictions.
| Drought Level | Restriction Information |
|---|---|
|
Level 0
Normal Conditions |
VOLUNTARY, May 1 - September 30
All nonessential outdoor watering is requested to be no more than one day a week, before 9 a.m. and after 5 p.m. based on the first letter of your street name. |
|
Level 1
Mild Drought Conditions |
MANDATORY!
All non-essential outdoor watering is restricted to ONE DAY A WEEK, before 9 a.m. and after 5 p.m. based on the first letter of your street name. Handheld hose, drip irrigation, or watering cans may be permitted. Monday: Street names in both towns beginning with A through C Tuesday Street names in both towns beginning with D through J Thursday: Street names in both towns beginning with K through R Friday: Street names in both towns beginning with S through Z |
|
Level 2
Significant Drought Conditions |
MANDATORY!
All non-essential outdoor watering is BANNED except for watering of plants and flowers with a handheld hose, drip irrigation, or watering cans may be permitted. |
|
Level 3
Critical/Emergency Drought Conditions |
MANDATORY!
All non-essential outdoor water uses are BANNED! |
Customers that do not comply with mandatory water restrictions will be subject to fines!
| Violation | Penalty/Fine |
|---|---|
| First Violation | Warning |
| Second Violation | $100 Fine |
| Third Violation | $250 Fine |
| Fourth and Subsequent Violations | $500 Fine |
Please Note: Each day of violation shall constitute a separate offense.
MassDEP defines nonessential outdoor water use as a use that is not required.
According to the Commonwealth’s Water Management Regulations, 310 CMR 36.03, Essential Water Uses Include:
Including public facilities used for cooling, such as splash pads and swimming pools, and for washing boats, engines, or marine equipment to prevent negative saltwater impacts or the transfer of invasive aquatic species.
Including those operated by schools, colleges, universities, and athletic associations, before 9 a.m. and after 5 p.m.
As necessary to stabilize soil in response to new construction or following the repair or replacement of a Title 5 system.
The Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection (MassDEP), Water Management Act Program, regulates the District to withdraw water from our groundwater wells by registration statements. In January 2023, MassDEP amended its Water Management Regulations by requiring all public water suppliers with registration statements to comply with prescribed water restriction levels by April 2025. Levels 1-3 are specifically prescribed by the Commonwealth, 310 CMR 36.07 (2)(c).
Previously, the District implemented its own water restriction levels. Now, the District must enforce drought restriction levels as declared by the Massachusetts Secretary of Energy and Environmental Affairs (EEA)/Drought Management Task Force. Dedham and Westwood are located in the Southeast Region of the Commonwealth, meaning all declarations made by the EEA for our region must be adhered to.
The Drought Management Task Force is chaired by the Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs (EEA) and the Massachusetts Emergency Management Agency. The task force comprises officials from state and federal agencies, as well as professional organizations, with responsibility for areas likely to be affected by drought conditions. It also includes representatives from agencies that provide data used to assess the severity of drought conditions or can respond to them, as well as public health and safety professionals.
The task force typically meets at the beginning of each month. It makes its recommendations for all regions across the state to the EEA Secretary, Rebecca Tepper, who, in turn, makes the drought declaration across the Commonwealth.
The task force looks at multiple factors when determining the drought status for each region. Monthly, the force will discuss the following by region:
Reports for the above can be accessed on the Drought Management Task Force’s notices, minutes, and materials.
Dedham and Westwood are located in the Southeast Region of the Commonwealth, Norfolk County. The Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs classified the Southeast Region as experiencing Level 2 – Significant Drought Conditions.
A drought is a prolonged period of little to no rainfall that results in a water shortage. Drought conditions reduce the streamflow and levels of natural watersheds, such as the Neponset and Charles Rivers, located near the District’s groundwater wells.
The District’s water supply comes from seventeen groundwater wells between Dedham and Westwood. Groundwater is water found in sand and gravel pore spaces below the earth’s surface.
Depending on the severity of drought conditions, the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection (MassDEP) has required the District to cease using its highest-yielding groundwater well when the streamflow of the Neponset River falls below 12.6 cubic feet per second.
No. The District already purchases water from the MWRA to ensure an adequate supply to protect public health and safety during peak water use in the summer.
MassDEP does not allow the District to forgo water restrictions by purchasing additional water from the MWRA.
No, compliance is not mandatory. However, DWWD encourages users to reduce their water use to ensure their groundwater well can meet their demand.
If you have a private well for outdoor irrigation, the District strongly encourages placing a placard out stating your water is sourced from well water.
Yes, when mandatory water restrictions are in effect. Please call the office at 781-329-7090. In order to issue a violation notice, the District must witness the occurrence.
Hydrant flushing of the District’s water distribution system is essential to maintaining water quality. Quality drinking water supersedes current restrictions, as it is essential.
Yes. Using a fire hydrant for demolition/dust control is allowed. This essential use would fall under the Commonwealth’s Water Management Regulations, 310 CMR 36.03, Public Health or Safety Reasons.
Updates about the status of water restrictions can be found:
– Online at www.dwwd.org
– Facebook
– X/Twitter
– Instagram