Water Bans

As of July 21, 2022 the City of Gardner public water supply is currently under mandatory water use restrictions in effect immediately and until further notice.


MassDEP monitors municipal outdoor water use restrictions from May 1st to September 30th each year. The following water use restrictions are in place until the water ban has been lifted.

Nonessential outdoor water uses that are subject to mandatory restrictions include:

  • Irrigation of lawns via sprinklers or automatic irrigation systems;
  • Washing of vehicles, except in a commercial car wash or as necessary for operator safety;
  • Washing of exterior building surfaces, parking lots, driveways or sidewalks, except as necessary to apply surface treatments such as paint, preservatives, stucco, pavement or cement.

The following uses may be allowed when mandatory restrictions are in place:

  • Irrigation to establish a new lawn and new plantings during the months of May and September;
  • Irrigation of public parks and recreational fields by means of automatic sprinklers outside the hours of 9 am to 5 pm; and
  • Irrigation of lawns, gardens, flowers and ornamental plants by means of a hand-held hose or drip irrigation systems; and
  • Irrigation of lawns by means of a hand-held hose only.

Water uses NOT subject to mandatory restrictions are those required:

  • For health or safety reasons;
  • By regulation;
    • For the production of food and fiber;
    • For the maintenance of livestock; or
    • To meet the core functions of a business (for example, irrigation by golf courses as necessary to maintain tees, greens, and limited fairway watering, or irrigation by plant nurseries as necessary to maintain stock).

Helpful Links