Needham DPW Tackles Implementing Outdoor Water Use Restrictions

July 15, 2026
• As New England enters its second heatwave this summer, Needham’s outdoor water use restrictions have remained at a level two, or significant drought condition, since June 11.

Massachusetts has been in a drought, on and off, since the summer of 2024, and the state regularly updates its regional classifications of the drought’s severity. Needham Department of Public Works Director Carys Lustig said the state’s changing regulations, combined with unpredictable weather events, have made achieving compliance with water use restrictions challenging.

“It’s a little bit hard for people to see the causation of it,” Lustig said. “It’s difficult on the messaging for the community to be consistent, when sometimes there is more impact to our area, and then other times there’s less.”

A level two restriction mandates residents limit outdoor watering to only hoses and watering cans and only between 5 p.m. and 9 a.m. Watering at those times aims “to minimize evaporative loss,” according to the DPW’s website.

In June, the Mass. Drought Management Task Force placed the Southeast drought management region, which includes Needham, at a level two. Prior to that, in May, the state had declared the region at a level one, or mild drought, which limited outdoor watering — including irrigation systems — to one day a week from 5 p.m. to 9 a.m.

Needham gets its water supply from a blend of the Charles River Wellfield and a connection to the Massachusetts Water Resources Authority. Because the town uses the wells, it is required to comply with the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection’s Water Management Act.

“Because we have blended water in town — so we don’t serve half the town with MWRA and half the town with Charles River water,” Lustig said. “All of our water, it comes out of the pipes from those facilities… we can’t say who’s using MWRA water and who’s using Charles River water, and therefore, all of our water is under that restriction.”

Effective April 2025, the DEP amended that act, requiring its registered water suppliers — including Needham — to implement emergency outdoor water restrictions when the state declares a drought.

Needham sits on the northern perimeter of the DEP’s Southeast region, which extends to the southern coast and the Rhode Island border. Neighboring towns like Newton fall into the Northeast region, which is at a level 3, or critical drought. However, Newton does not have to implement restrictions because their water is supplied entirely by the MWRA.

The DEP’s geographical divisions are large, which Lustig said can create confusion when a drought is declared across an entire region, including the areas that are less impacted. She said declaring water restrictions even when Needham isn’t affected makes it more difficult to effectively implement them when they are needed.

“You don’t want to become the boy who cried wolf,” Lustig said. “You don’t want to be in a situation where people feel like you have abundant water resources and then you’re declaring a drought because another part of the state is experiencing it and not have people pay attention to it, and then be in a real drought and not have people follow through.”

Weather and climate change also play a role. Currently, the town is below its average precipitation, Lustig said, and climate change makes weather patterns less predictable and leads to “more extremity.” She deferred questions about the potential causes behind the drought declarations to the DEP.

The DPW allows certain exemptions from the water use restrictions, such as for food production or sports fields, which the town said it maintains “as a safety measure to help prevent concussions.”

Exemptions can also be made when the restrictions would directly affect a business’ primary source of revenue, as with golf courses and car washes. Residents can apply for exemptions to fill privately owned pools and irrigate lawns for new-build homes.

The DPW is not levying fines for breaking restrictions, since Needham is still able to provide sufficient water through the MWRA’s supply. Instead, the department is taking a “proactive outreach” when it becomes aware of a violation, Lustig said, meaning staff are informing residents through letters and door-knocking. She noted that the town has fielded comments both from residents against the restrictions and from those who feel water conservation should be taken more seriously.

“I have driven by many houses in the last several days where sprinklers are going off,” one resident wrote on Facebook. “There are either people who disregard this or [there] needs to be a better way to get the word out.”

Needham’s water usage is often two to three times higher in the summer than in the winter, Lustig added.

“Outdoor water use is a primary driver of our water in the summer,” she said.

Lustig said the DPW focuses on promoting conservation practices regardless of drought conditions, as well as combatting a “scarcity mindset,” a psychological phenomenon that can lead to overuse of resources perceived to be in short supply. She said they sometimes see an increase in water usage when the town is advocating for restrictions.

“If you wanted to buy a t-shirt, and they said, ‘there’s only three t-shirts left at the store,’ well, you’re gonna run to the store and buy t-shirts,” Lustig said. “Water doesn’t work that way.”

Benjamin Fogler is a rising sophomore at Northwestern University, where he is studying journalism. Fogler, who graduated from Needham High School, also writes for The Daily Northwestern.