A water ban is still in effect for Mattapoisett and Marion.

“We still remain in a drought warning, which in turn tells us we should be staying in the water ban,” said Mattapoisett Water and Sewer Superintendent Henry Rinauld.

The state issued a strongly encouraged but voluntary water ban for the South Coast area in early September, and the latest report says recent rains haven’t changed the drought status.

Both towns instituted mandatory water restrictions that included banning non-essential water use, including watering lawns with sprinklers or automatic irrigation systems and washing vehicles.

Exceptions have been made for gardens, flowers and ornamental plants watered with a handheld hose from 6-8 a.m. and 6-8 p.m. only, and for irrigation with harvested and stored stormwater runoff during those same hours. For those in Marion, watering has been limited to Monday, Wednesday and Friday for even-numbered houses, and Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday for odd-numbered houses.

Rinauld said the ban is likely to stay in place until the end of the growing season in November. He and Marion Town Administrator Paul Dawson said they will keep the ban as long as the state says it’s needed.

“There’s no fear of running out, but we certainly are feeling cautious,” Rinauld said.