Frequently Asked Questions

The Secretary of Energy and Environmental Affairs (EEA). The Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs (EEA) is a cabinet-level office in Massachusetts that manages the state's environmental and energy policies.

1. Level 1 (Mild Drought). All nonessential outdoor water uses are restricted to no more than one day per week, before 9 a.m. and after 5 p.m., except that watering of ornamentals and flower gardens with drip irrigation, hand-held hose or watering cans may be permitted. 
2. Level 2 (Significant Drought). All nonessential outdoor water uses are banned, except that watering of ornamentals and flower gardens with drip irrigation, hand-held hose or watering cans may be permitted. 
3. Level 3 (Critical Drought) or Level 4 (Drought Emergency). All nonessential outdoor water uses are banned.

Under the new water Registration, “nonessential outdoor water use” is defined as outdoor use of water not used for: specific health and safety reasons, for the production of food including vegetable gardens, maintenance of livestock, to provide core functions of certain businesses, irrigation of public parks and public/private recreation fields before 9am and after 5pm, and for other select conditions as outlined in the Registration. 

Upon EEA’s declaration of an official drought, the Town will publish a notice on the Town’s website, on official Town social media or by such other means reasonably calculated to reach and inform all users of water of the state of water supply conservation.

Under Article 80 of the current Bylaw of the Town of Natick, the Town will continue to enforce mandatory water bans, similar to the method in place prior to the new Registration requirements. Under the Bylaw, any person violating the water use restrictions will be fined $50 for the first violation and $100 for each subsequent violation. Each day of violation shall constitute a separate offense. 

The town had 24 months from the date of the new Registration to begin implementation of the new water use restrictions, depending on the drought declaration. Since the Registration is dated April 2023, implementation began in April 2025. 

The Town of Natick participated in a group appeal in Superior Court along with 20 other Public Water Systems to contest the State’s ability to condition Water Registrations, and attempted to maintain exclusive control over its local water supply. As a Public Water System, Natick is supportive of water conservation, particularly during drought conditions exacerbated by climate change. However, since no two water systems are alike, the appeal group felt that issuing blanket conditions on all water registrants, regardless of their individual system characteristics or supplemental supplies, was not in the overall best interest of the individual Public Water Systems. 

Information on the official drought status as declared by the EEA can be found at https://www.mass.gov/info-details/drought-status. Further information on Natick’s Water Restrictions can be found on the Water and Sewer Division webpage at (link).