Massachusetts Irrigation Schedule
Smarter watering begins with you
People across the country are putting water high on the list of things to use more efficiently, especially given the large fluctuations in the amount of rain and snow we receive. Plus, of course, the finite nature of the water supply and the essential role it plays in human, economic and environmental well-being.
In the communities shown below, residents are saving millions of gallons of water each year by following a mandatory schedule for sprinkler irrigation.
Hand-held watering is allowed at any time. Customers may qualify for a variance from the schedule for new lawns or plantings during the months of May and September.
For Millbury Customers
(In effect from May 1 to September 30 unless drought is declared)
| Last Digit of Your Address Number | Nonessential outdoor water use is allowed only at the following times |
| 0, 2, 4, 6 or 8 (even numbers) | Even-numbered days |
| 1, 3, 5, 7 or 9 (odd numbers) | Odd-numbered days |
| No address number | Even-numbered days |
For Dover (Dover/Springdale Farms systems) and Ponds of Plymouth Customers
(In effect from May 1 to September 30 unless drought is declared)
| Last Digit of Your Address | Nonessential outdoor water use is allowed only at the following times |
| 0, 2, 4, 6 or 8 (even numbers) | Sunday & Wednesday |
| 1, 3, 5, 7 or 9 (odd numbers) | Saturday & Tuesday |
| No address number | Sunday & Wednesday |
For Pinehills Customers
(In effect from May 1 to September 30 unless drought is declared)
Applies to all Pinehills customers
| Last Digit of Your Address | Automatic irrigation system use is allowed only at the following times |
| 1, 3, 5, 7 or 9 (odd numbers) | Customers permitted to utilize their irrigation systems on Monday, Wednesday and Friday between the hours of 7:00 pm - 7:00 am |
| 0, 2, 4, 6 or 8 (even numbers) | Customers permitted to utilize their irrigation systems on Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday between the hours of 7:00 pm - 7:00 am |
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
- irrigation of lawns via sprinklers or automatic irrigation systems;
- washing of vehicles, except in a commercial car wash or as necessary for operator safety; and
- washing of exterior building surfaces, parking lots, driveways or sidewalks, except as necessary to apply surface treatments such as paint, preservatives, stucco, pavement, or cement.
- irrigation to establish a new lawn and new plantings during the months of May and September;
- irrigation of public parks and recreational fields by means of automatic sprinklers outside the hours
- of 9 am to 5 pm; and
- irrigation of lawns, gardens, flowers and ornamental plants by means of a hand-held hose.
- other water uses NOT subject to mandatory restrictions include essential watering activities:
- for health or safety reasons;
- by regulation;
- for the maintenance of livestock; or
- to meet the core functions of a business (for example, irrigation by golf courses as necessary to
- maintain tees, greens, and limited fairway watering, or irrigation by plant nurseries as necessary to
- maintain stock).
Through the Water Management Act, MassDEP regulates the amount of water that all water suppliers in Massachusetts can withdraw from the environment from its sources (e.g. wells). The irrigation schedule will help ensure that our water systems are in compliance
with the WMA permit limits and requirements.
Visit http://www.nsrwa.org/watersmart/greenscapes/ for tips on lawn and garden care. According to Greenscapes:
- Grass grows the deepest and healthiest roots with infrequent watering.
- Watering two days a week is more than adequate to have a beautiful lawn. In fact, research has shown that grass thrives with about an inch of rain a week - some supplied by Mother Nature and the rest by just one watering.
You can also visit our Lawn and Garden Irrigation Tips page.