The City of Brockton Water Commissioners, finally listening to Halifax and Silver Lake’s towns, have issued an outside water ban within the city and also to the towns to which Brockton sells Silver Lake water.
The town of Whitman, a Brockton water customer, received notice that beginning immediately, the town will have to implement outside watering by hand held hose only on an odd/even basis. No sprinklers will be permitted. The City of Brockton has initiated the same ban.
Halifax Town Administrator Charlie Seelig said this is probably the worst drought he can recall and looking at records, the levels at Monponsett ponds are as low as they have ever been in the 20 years of data he has access to.
“Levels at Silver Lake are dropping daily,” he said.
The Town of Halifax, which shares Silver Lake with three other towns: Kingston, Plympton, and Pembroke, has had a total outside watering ban since spring because of the severe drought the area is experiencing.
Last year, while Halifax had a total outside watering ban, thirsty Brockton residents had no such ban, with the sluice gate at Stump Brook closed, keeping West Pond stagnant, and draining it to augment Silver Lake’s output.
This year, however, Brockton has not diverted any water from West Monponsett Pond not only because of the severe drought but also because the high cyanobacteria levels are as much as 15 times the threshold for healthy contact.
Rep. Thomas J. Calter, D-Kingston, has brought the Brockton water situation to the attention of Governor Charlie Baker and the legislature and may seek new legislation to encourage Brockton to find appropriate sources for its ever-growing water needs.