Pittsfield To Mandate Water Use Restrictions As Drought Continues

WAMC Northeast Public Radio | By Josh Landes

Published September 15, 2020 at 9:43 AM EDT

A small round brick building with a little orange flag on its roof sits in a body of water under swollen grey clouds — The Cleveland Reservoir in Hinsdale, Massachusetts holds water for Pittsfield.

On Wednesday, water use restrictions in Pittsfield, Massachusetts are moving from voluntary to mandatory as the city’s water supply continues to drop amid a statewide drought. Outdoor water activities like watering lawns and gardens, washing cars or filling swimming pools must happen before 7 a.m. or after 7 p.m. and only on alternating days. Pittsfield’s Department of Public Services and Utilities will be enforcing the new restrictions, with fines issued for all offenses after the first. WAMC spoke with Department Commissioner Ricardo Morales.

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Josh Landes

Josh Landes has been WAMC's Berkshire Bureau Chief since February 2018, following stints at WBGO Newark and WFMU East Orange. A passionate advocate for Western Massachusetts, Landes was raised in Pittsfield and attended Hampshire College in Amherst, receiving his bachelor's in Ethnomusicology and Radio Production. His free time is spent with his cat Harry, experimental electronic music, and exploring the woods.

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