On May 22, MA Energy and Environmental Affairs (EEA) Secretary Rebecca Tepper declared a Level 3: Critical Drought for the Northeast Drought Management 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.
During the first two weeks of May, much of the Northeast Region received only 0.5 to 1.5 inches of rain. Rivers and streams throughout the region are running below normal levels, an indicator that groundwater continues to shrink. On the drought management dashboard, the 16 Northeast Region streams, whose gauge levels were taken into consideration in making the recent drought declaration, were averaging in the second percentile of historic streamflow.
“Water conservation is especially important as we head into the summer months,” said EEA Secretary Rebecca Tepper. “Communities are already seeing streams run low and groundwater levels continue to drop after months of below-average rainfall. Reducing outdoor watering and avoiding unnecessary water use can help protect local water supplies during the hottest and driest time of year.”
Residents are encouraged to report dry environmental conditions and upload photos through the Massachusetts Water Impact Reporter to help the state monitor drought impacts in real time. Private well owners experiencing problems such as dry wells should contact their local Board of Health, which is also asked to report local well conditions to the state.
According to the online History of Drought Declarations in Massachusetts, the part of the state that includes Acton entered its current bout of drought status in August 2025. Since then, it has ping ponged up and down from drought level 3 to 1 to 2 to 3 to 2 to 1 and now back up to 3. The water table, as measured by the U.S. Geological Survey monitoring well on Wetherbee Street in Acton, is now 2.5 feet below the median for this time of year. The last time that the water table at Wetherbee Street was at or above its median was during the wet spring and summer of 2024.
The persistent light rain that fell on the Sunday and Monday of Memorial Day weekend has rejuvenated plants somewhat. However, in this reporter’s garden, the soil remains dry a few inches below the ground surface, the intermittent stream beside her house is not flowing, and the basement sump pump has not activated — all signs that there wasn’t enough rain to do much to recharge the groundwater aquifer.
Invited to comment on the upgraded drought declaration, Acton Water District (AWD or District) Manager Matt Mostoller replied that the District does not plan to change outdoor water use restrictions at this time. The current restrictions allow non-essential outdoor water use one day per week; you can find out which day from the map or address lookup feature on the AWD website. The drought status and implications for AWD will be on the agenda for the June 1 AWD Commissioners’ meeting; zoom link and agenda will be posted here.
Mostoller added: “We continue to watch the USGS [US Geological Survey] monitoring well on Wetherbee Street as it reflects declining regional groundwater levels. Currently, our production wells are not exhibiting similar declines. Additionally, the Nashoba Brook gauge is healthy… nowhere near the … low flow … trigger in our [Water Management Act] permit, which would be our next requirement to restrict water use.”
Kim Kastens is an Acton Exchange Board member and Associate Editor; she also chairs the Water Committee for Green Acton.
