The Town of Salem has issued Mandatory Water Restrictions effective May 15, 2026, for all customers on the Town’s water system.
Due to moderate drought conditions reported in the area by the Federal National Integrated Drought Information System, along with information from the Town’s reservoir prediction water level computer model, the Salem Town Council adopted mandatory water restrictions on May 4, 2026. These restrictions are being implemented to help conserve the Town’s drinking water supply during current drought conditions.
Lawn Irrigation Water Restrictions
Use of outside watering of lawns by manual or automatic sprinklers is only permitted between 12:00 AM and 10:00 AM on odd numbered days.
Residents with automatic sprinkler systems should reprogram their systems to follow the restrictions listed above.
There are no restrictions on handheld devices used for watering landscapes, gardens, and flowers.
Enforcement and Penalties
Enforcement and penalties may be carried out by authorized agents of the Town of Salem and may include the following:
- First offense: Written warning hand delivered to the site of the violation
- Second offense: $100 fine
- Third offense: $500 fine
- Subsequent offense: $500 fine and shut off water service
All current fees will be applicable in addition to fines, including but not limited to fees for water shut off and turn on.
Lawn Watering Tips
Residents are encouraged to follow best practices for lawn watering and water conservation throughout the summer months. The ideal time to water lawns is early in the morning, between 4:00 AM and 9:00 AM. A healthy lawn typically only needs one inch of water per week to stay active during the summer.
A helpful way to measure this is to place an empty tuna can on the lawn while watering. Once the can is full, your lawn has received approximately one inch of water. Residents may also use a rain gauge to measure watering.
Grass should be cut at a minimum height of three inches during the summer months. This helps shade the root zone and encourages deeper root growth. Residents are also encouraged to mulch grass clippings into the lawn to help retain water.
Automatic irrigation systems should be programmed properly and should include rain sensors to avoid unnecessary watering.
The Town of Salem appreciates the community’s cooperation and effort in helping sustain Salem’s drinking water supply. These restrictions will remain in place until further notice.
For more information, please review the Mandatory Water Restrictions notice and Lawn Watering Tips.