Drought is over, but restricitons remain.
The task force uses a five point scale to designate drought conditions, with normal being the lowest designation.
Although Massachusetts Energy and Environmental Affairs Secretary Matthew Beaton still has to approve these recommendations, it would be safe to say that the drought in Foxboro is officially over.
That’s because these restrictions are designed to keep Foxboro’s water use under 65 gallons per-person, per-day, and are not a response to a drought designation, or lack thereof.
Houses with wells are exempt from all these restrictions.
This small overage made it so Foxboro had to put in place draconian water bans in town when the area was under a drought designation last summer, a designation that stretched into this very month in one form or another.
Worthley said that unless the town falls under a high drought designation again, the restriction will stay in place.
Brown water Additionally, Worthley spoke to recent incidents involving the town water system.
On the April 20 to 24 low water pressure and brown water experienced by residents in the Main Street area, Worthley said that a new valve, designed to move water from the high pressure part the of the system around Route 1 to the lower pressure area around Main Street let in a big surge of water, kicking up sediment and causing brown water.
Worthley said that high water use during this time period exacerbated the low pressure and brown water situation, and that only additional rainfall allowed for the water tower on Route 1 to refill, allowing for enough water to enter the system and solve both issues.