Below is an announcement first published in the latest Town Topics newsletter:
WILMINGTON, MA — With the hot summer days arriving, residents are reminded that the Town of Wilmington has MINIMUM active water use restrictions, even when the state’s drought declaration level is zero.
At a minimum during a level zero drought declaration:
— There is no outdoor watering allowed between the hours of 9:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m.
— In the case of sprinkler systems, both above ground and installed underground systems may only be used once per week, subject to the hours above.
Other outside water use is restricted to hand held hoses only.
As a reminder, under Wilmington’s new water registration, the town will be bound by Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs’ declaration of a drought and will be required to enforce outdoor nonessential watering restrictions, as restricted by the declared drought class.
Level 1 (Mild Drought). All nonessential outdoor water uses restricted to no more than one day per week, before 9 a.m. and after 5 p.m., except that watering of ornamentals and flower gardens with drip irrigation, hand-held hose or watering cans may be permitted. (Wilmington observes this restriction year-round at a minimum, regardless of whether a drought has been declared).
Level 2 (Significant Drought). All nonessential outdoor water uses banned, except that watering of ornamentals and flower gardens with drip irrigation, hand-held hose or watering cans may be permitted.
Level 3 (Critical Drought) or Level 4 (Drought Emergency). All nonessential outdoor water uses are banned.
EDITOR’S NOTE: The EEA has issued a Level 3 – Critical Drought through many areas of the Commonwealth, including Wilmington. As such, in order to comply with Wilmington’s new water registration, NO NON-ESSENTIAL OUTDOOR WATERING IS ALLOWED. Learn more HERE.
Information on the official drought status as declared by the EEA can be found at https://www.mass.gov/info-details/drought-status, on the DPW website at https://www.wilmingtonma.gov/public-works, or on Wilmington’s official social media sites. Further information on Wilmington’s Water Restrictions can be found on the Water and Sewer Division webpage at https://www.wilmingtonma.gov/water-sewer-division/pages/water-restrictions or by calling the DPW Water Division at 978-658-4711.
WATER AND SEWER RATES ADJUSTMENT
To meet the increasing costs to operate, maintain and upgrade water and sewer infrastructure, remain compliant with regulatory requirements and provide safe, potable drinking water and proper sewage disposal, the Town will periodically adjust water and sewer rates.
The Water and Sewer Commission approved a rate adjustment at its meeting on May 21, 2026. Current water and sewer rates are available at the Water and Sewer Division website: https://www.wilmingtonma.gov/water-sewer-division.
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Wilmington Apple 
Hi Robert, Thank you for sending this out. It’s important to note the current status in Wilmington is as follows: Level 3 (Critical Drought) or Level 4 (Drought Emergency). All nonessential outdoor water uses are banned. (current status as of May 22, 2026) What is the definition of “nonessential outdoor water use”? Under the new water Registration, “nonessential outdoor water use” is defined as an outdoor use of water not used for: specific health and safety reasons, for the production of food including vegetable gardens, maintenance of livestock, to provide core functions of certain businesses, irrigation of public parks and public/private recreation fields before 9am and after 5pm, and for other select conditions as outlined in the Registration. I am not sure the article makes that crystal clear to people what our current status is and there is some internal conversation about stepping up enforcement. We are beyond minimum requirements at this point so I just want residents to be aware of that. Thank you and hope all is well. Happy 4th! Sincerely, Judy
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