Non-Essential Water Ban - Effective Immediately

The Rowley Water Department Announces Water Ban
Effective immediately

No non-essential water use is in effect between the hours of 9am – 5pm 7 days per week. On May 22, 2026 Energy and Environmental Affairs (EEA) Secretary Rebecca Tepper declared a Level 3 – Critical Drought for the Northeast Region, which includes Essex, Middlesex and Suffolk Counties. The designation follows years of below-average rainfall and declining streamflow across the state, signaling worsening drought conditions and increasing stress on local water supplies.

In addition to the level 3 drought conditions, RWD has limited water production capacity due to Well #2 being offline since October 2024. The RWD is currently investigating a short-term solution to bring well #2 back online. What does this ban mean? We are asking residents and businesses to refrain from non-essential water use outside from 9am to 5pm daily. There are a number of uses considered nonessential, such as automated sprinkler systems and washing your own car.

The RWD has Water Ban Violation Fees for first offenders of $50, second offenders of $100, and third offenders of $300.