MATTAPOISETT — Currently, the South Coast is experiencing an extreme drought. Mattapoisett Water Superintendent Henri Renauld said at a Oct. 13 Water and Sewer Commissioners meeting that Plymouth and Bristol County has moved into a stage three critical drought.

But as summer residents go home and more sprinkler systems shut down ahead of the first frost, he said he doesn’t think it’s necessary for the town to upgrade to a mandatory water restriction.

The town imposed a voluntary water restriction to limit non-essential usage on Aug. 24 that is still in effect.

Demand for water is going down by the week, Renauld said he observed, so to upgrade this late in the season “just isn’t necessary.” 

He explained that if the drought had been upgraded in the peak of summer, the town would reconsider, but demand is slowing now and rain is starting to come.

“We’ve been dry since July, so hopefully we can recover and bring the water table up,” Renauld said, adding that getting some snow would help too.

For the voluntary restriction, odd house numbers are asked to water lawns on odd days, and even houses water on even days. Anyone can water on the last day of the month. Watering is limited to morning and evening hours.