July 1, 2026 By Carol Britton Meyer (staff photo)
Weir River Water System, with the support of the board of water commissioners, is taking proactive steps to stop the excessive use of lawn irrigation systems and other water usage that violate the current restrictions and have been depleting town storage tanks faster than they are filling back up.
This includes tagging the doors of violators and potentially shutting off the water supply at a residence or business on the third violation, which hadn’t yet occurred as of Wednesday morning. “We need to show people we are serious,” WRWS Managing Director/Superintendent Russell Tierney said at Tuesday’s board of water commissioners’ meeting. The board is comprised of the Hingham select board.
With the current heat wave and upcoming Fourth of July holiday weekend – when the demand for water will increase – Tierney entreated residents to “please shut off your irrigation systems. We want to get through the holiday without any [water supply] issues and to leave water available for what we need it for.”
Failure to abide by current water restrictions affects fire protection and water quality, which are the two key priorities, Tierney said. “When the aquifer level drops, it drops, and we have no control over that. Water restrictions will be in place for the forseeable future.”
Violators’ doors tagged
Being proactive includes tagging houses and businesses that are in violation of the restrictions – either observed by WRWS or Veolia crews or reported by residents and verified. Veolia is the WRWS contract operator.
“We go out each morning and evening and throughout the day tagging first- and second-time offenders. On the third offense, their water can be shut off [under WRWS regulations],” Veolia Project Manager Darren Dearth told the commissioners.
As of Tuesday night, there were more than 220 first violations, about 21 second violations, and three or more third violations where the water was “ready for shutoff,” he said. “Sometimes after we let someone know they aren’t supposed to be irrigating their lawns, they turn their irrigation systems back on a few hours later.”
Dearth noted that care is taken not to tag properties that have private wells, which are required to be registered with the Hingham board of health. He also asks customers with wells to post a sign indicating they are using well water to avoid confusion.
When asked by commissioner/select board member Julie Strehle whether WRWS/Veolia is encountering more violations in Hingham or in Hull, Dearth said most are occurring in Hingham.
Level 2 restrictions remain in place
Although conservation efforts are helping, as of Wednesday, the current restrictions status remained at Level 2 – significant drought – with lawn irrigation prohibited and handheld watering for gardens, landscape plantings, “and other essential needs” allowed by watering cans or handheld hoses used just enough to water the plants and not left running continuously.
Under Level 2, all non-essential outdoor usage is prohibited (lawn irrigation; washing vehicles, exterior building surfaces, parking lots, driveways, and sidewalks; and filling swimming pools). Go to https://www.hinghamanchor.com/weir-river-water-system-conservation-efforts-helping-remain-in-effect/ for further information and to https://www.hingham-ma.gov/881/Water-Conservation-Restrictions. Email customerservice@hmlp.com with questions or concerns.
Level one restrictions are imposed under a “mild drought” and level three for a “critical drought.”
In a mild drought, early-stage dryness requires monitoring, with precautionary measures recommended.
For a significant drought, there’s evidence of environmental stress, with low stream flows and groundwater, causing strain on water supplies and wildfire risks.
With a critical drought, water resources are under severe strain, with very low stream flows and threats to the local drinking water supply. Under these conditions, there would be a ban on all non-essential outdoor water use and a possible ban on handheld hose watering depending on various conditions.
In extreme conditions, certain indoor use of water can also be restricted.
Groundwater levels low throughout the state
Some customers are asking why the drought and related restrictions following the heavy snowfall this winter and some recent rainfall. “One winter of precipitation does not make up for a few years of drought, Tierney told the Hingham Anchor in response to a followup after Tuesday night’s water commissioners’ meeting. “The entire state is in the same situation because groundwater levels are low.”
Commissioner Liz Klein emphasized the importance of continued education and communication to help residents realize the severity of the situation and to encourage them to abide by the restrictions. “It’s hard for some people to wrap their arms around this,” she said.
Commissioner William Ramsey asked Tierney if town counsel had reviewed the restrictions/regulations, including whether it’s legal to terminate a customer’s water service. The response was affirmative.
“When you turn off someone’s water, it causes a big problem,” Ramsey said. “I get it, but we want to be sure [customers] are properly notified.”
Ramsey then asked Tierney to clarify the tagging system, which involves tagging the doors of violators, taking a photo of the tag, the date and time, and address of the customer involved as part of an overall data base. For the third violation, the door is tagged with a shutoff notice. No termination of water service has yet taken place.
According to Tierney, a new water conservation and drought management plan has been drafted and is under review by WRWS. Veolia, and the WRWS citizen advisory board.