Harwich Water Department News & Events

Water Use Increases 32 Million Gallons
August 16, 2002

Water consumption increased significantly despite the Water Use Restrictions which became effective on June 1.

The Pumpage Comparison chart below demonstrates a 32 million gallon increase in water consumption in July 2002 in comparison to the same period in 2001.

The Massachusetts Drought Management Task Force, at its August 13th meeting at the Massachusetts Emergency Management Agency Headquarters in Framingham, recommended that the drought designation for the southeast and Cape Cod/Islands regions of the state be increased to watch level.

July and August precipitation in Massachusetts has been far below normal. Precipitation totals for the month of July averaged only 51 percent of normal. The southeast and Cape Cod regions have received less than half an inch of rain so far during August, with the Cape receiving less than 20 percent of normal.