BY THOR JOURGENSEN
LYNN — Worries about potential droughts statewide have not dampened the Water & Sewer Commission‘s expectations for enough H20 for lawns, pools and other uses.
Commissioner and City Councilor Richard Colucci said local reservoirs are “a little low” but the city’s plentiful water supplies have historically not placed the city in drought.
“It’s not a problem – yet,” he said.
But state officials do not have the same confidence. On Friday, Energy and Environmental Affairs (EEA) Secretary Matthew Beaton declared a drought watch for the Northeast following months of unusually dry weather.
The declaration was the result of a recommendation issued from a recent meeting, comprised of state, federal and local officials. It will remain in effect until water levels return to normal.
“Drought conditions can contribute to lasting agricultural, environmental and economic impacts, and also raise serious public safety concerns,” said Beaton in a statement. “We advise all residents to conserve water and take increased care with any outdoor burning such as campfires and disposal of smoking materials.”
City officials brief Colucci and fellow commissioners monthly on reservoir levels. Colucci said latest reservoir levels stand at 76 percent with the commission’s water supply topping three billion gallons.
“There’s nothing to worry about,” he said. You can drink, flush and water.”
The decline of the state’s rainfall in the Connecticut River Valley, Central and the Northeast since March led to the drought condition, with cumulative precipitation deficits of four to five inches below normal for the months of April, May and June, Beaton said.
In May and June, precipitation was less than 61 percent of normal in the regions under drought watch and advisory. Data from the state’s groundwater, streamflow and reservoir monitoring network show very low levels since July 1. Seventeen streams across the four regions impacted by drought have registered record-low flows for early July.
“If these very dry conditions continue through the summer months, the threat of wildfires will become even greater,” said Massachusetts Emergency Management Agency (MEMA) Director Kurt Schwartz, in a statement. “To that end, we remind our residents and visitors to continue to not only conserve water, but also utilize extreme caution when dealing with outdoor burning.”
A drought watch, a higher degree of drought, represents extremely low groundwater and streamflow levels resulting from a precipitation deficit of nearly 10 inches over the past 12 months, including a lack of snowfall in the winter months.
While some smaller reservoir systems in drought advisory areas are low for this time of year, the Massachusetts Water Resources Authority (MWRA) supply system is well above any drought conditions within its individual plan. Additionally, public water suppliers around the state have issued conservation measures in response to the dry conditions.
Thor Jourgensen can be reached at [email protected]
